The Risks of Social Media Challenges and Poisoning

Parents know that the Internet, especially social media, can feel like the Wild West. The wide range of content can be a great educational resource — but also pose some serious risks.

You may be wondering what social media has to do with poisoning or how it can increase the risk. In recent years, we have seen a rise in trendy social media challenges that involve inappropriate use of household products or medications.

Challenges are a common trend on social media. Popular challenges like planking were all the rage a few years ago, and some trends like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge can even help raise money for charity to make a positive impact.

More dangerously, however, are trends like the Tide Pod Challenge, which involved (quite literally) ingesting laundry detergent pods. Other viral social media trends like the Benadryl Challenge and NyQuil Chicken prompted a response from the FDA. Participating in some of these online challenges can cause severe complications from poisoning.

Young people are particularly impressionable and vulnerable to being influenced by content they see online. Therefore, it’s important for parents to be aware of their child’s Internet usage and what steps to take if they believe their child has participated in a challenge involving potentially toxic substances.

Tips for monitoring and using social media safely:

• Educate yourself on the platforms your child wants to use
  If your child has expressed an interest in creating a social media account, parents should know what they’re getting into. Read app reviews and know the age limit. You should also create an account on the platform so you can teach them firsthand how to safely use it.
• Personalize privacy settings
  Knowing how to block, report, and filter content across social media platforms can help block potentially harmful content. Each platform has different safety features that you can use to help keep your child safe online.
• Learn the lingo
  When allowing a child to independently access social media platforms, they are likely to learn a few new things along the way. Many Internet communities use slang terms or a different “dialect” to communicate, which may make it difficult for a parent to effectively monitor their child’s Internet usage. As a parent, it’s important to know what kind of content your child is accessing and to learn about it.
• Start a conversation about the potential dangers of social media challenges
  Kids and teens may encounter trends on social media that they want to participate in. Instead of shutting them down immediately, start a conversation and ask open-ended questions to encourage them to think through the actions of the challenge. Ask them to think about if the risks to their health and safety is worth the perceived social media gain.
• Educate your kids about safe medication use
  Teaching children about safe medication use can help prevent accidents in the future. Creating a medicine action plan, including which adults to talk to about taking medicine, where medications are stored, and how your family will ensure child safety caps are locked on all medicines, helps children take an active role in medication safety.

If you suspect that a person in your care has participated in these or other social media trends and has ingested a substance that may be poisonous, please call our helpline at 1-800-222-1222 or visit PoisonHelp.org.