Viral social media trend leaves experts alarmed

CAIRO –

A social media trend that has teenagers dousing their hands with boiling water to “prove trust and friendship” has sparked widespread outrage and alarm among parents, educators and health professionals. The so-called “boiling water challenge,” which spreads rapidly across platforms such as TikTok, has caused severe injuries, including second- and third-degree burns, permanent scarring, and hospitalisation.

The trend, initially framed as a playful test of friendship, has reportedly extended to younger children, amplifying the dangers and public indignation. Medical experts warn that deep burns can lead to serious infections, permanent nerve damage, and may require complex skin graft surgeries. The psychological impact is also significant, with victims at risk of long-term trauma and anxiety.

“While these challenges may appear amusing online, the reality in emergency rooms is starkly different,” said a Chicago emergency physician, who has treated children injured while attempting viral online dares. Similar incidents worldwide include severe burns from fire-based challenges, illustrating the global risks of blind imitation.

Digital algorithms amplify danger

Experts point to social media algorithms that reward emotionally-charged content. Platforms like TikTok are designed to prioritise videos that provoke strong reactions, inadvertently promoting dangerous trends to impressionable teenagers, even when they have not actively sought them out.

Although TikTok has stated it uses artificial intelligence to detect and remove content promoting harmful behaviour, experts argue that technological solutions alone are insufficient without broader societal and familial awareness.

Psychological effects compounded by social media pressures

A five-year study conducted by France’s Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) highlights the broader psychological pressures of social media on adolescents. Unlike previous studies that focused on screen time, blue light, or attention span, the research examined the content itself and the emotional engagement it generates.

The study, involving around 50 multidisciplinary experts, including paediatricians, psychologists, epidemiologists, and social scientists, analysed over 1,000 prior studies and concluded that social media exerts measurable negative effects on teenagers’ mental health. While not the sole factor, platforms significantly increase emotional pressure, contributing to anxiety, depression and behavioural risks.

The report noted that girls are disproportionately affected due to higher usage rates and greater personal investment in online interactions. Social pressures, cyberbullying, and adherence to gendered stereotypes exacerbate stress, while online exposure to peer images intensifies body dissatisfaction.

Unlike traditional media, where comparisons were made with professional models, social media pits adolescents against each other, heightening feelings of inadequacy and, in some cases, prompting eating disorders.

Calls for action

Health professionals, educators and parents are urging urgent interventions. Schools are being encouraged to integrate digital safety and media literacy into curricula, while parents are advised to monitor online activity and engage in conversations about the real-world dangers behind viral trends.

“The trend may appear as harmless fun, but it is part of a broader pattern of risk-taking amplified by social media platforms,” said one child psychologist. “The combination of peer pressure, algorithmic reinforcement, and the thrill of social validation can have devastating consequences.”

As digital challenges continue to evolve, experts stress that community awareness, parental supervision and regulatory oversight are crucial to prevent social media from becoming a vector for physical harm.