Dangerous Challenges

This article touches on sensitive topics such as self-harm and suicidal behavior. If you are currently struggling or having thoughts of self-harm, you are not alone — services such as the Nummer gegen Kummer helpline (116 111) are there to listen and help.

What Are Challenges — and When Do They Become Dangerous?

Challenges are essentially dares or challenges and are particularly popular on social media. Someone performs a specific action, records themselves doing it, and uploads the video online. If it becomes popular, others imitate it and post their own versions. Participants often challenge or nominate each other by name. The phenomenon became particularly well known in 2014 through the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, in which people poured a bucket of ice water over their heads to raise awareness of the neurological disease ALS and collect donations.

One thing first: Most challenges are harmless and simply fun. A study by the Landesanstalt für Medien NRW (“Challenge Accepted,” February 2024) examined which challenges circulate on TikTok and how dangerous they are: 64.6% were harmless, and another 4.9% were even positive. However, almost one-third (30.5%) were potentially physically or psychologically dangerous, and 1.1% could even be fatal. A challenge becomes dangerous when it puts you or others at physical, psychological, or legal risk.

What Types of Dangerous Challenges Are There?

Dangerous challenges can broadly be categorized according to whether they primarily put yourself or other people at risk:

• Fainting and choking games: In the “Blackout Challenge” (also known as the “Choking Game” or “Pilot Test”), the oxygen supply to the brain is interrupted until the person loses consciousness (e.g., by holding their breath or using plastic bags). This is one of the most dangerous types of challenge. According to several lawsuits against TikTok, at least seven children between the ages of 8 and 14 reportedly died from it worldwide in 2021. Bloomberg has even reported that the challenge has been linked to the deaths of around 20 children within an 18-month period.
• Food and spicy-food challenges: In the “Hot Chip Challenge”, also known as the “One Chip Challenge,” participants are supposed to eat extremely spicy chips on camera without neutralizing the heat. It may sound harmless at first, but it has repeatedly resulted in esophageal injuries, breathing difficulties, and stomach and circulatory problems (Ins Netz gehen; aktion-tu-was/Police). The “Salt Chip” variant, in which an extremely salty chip is eaten, can also lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
• Stunt and falling challenges: In the “Milk Crate Challenge,” beverage crates are stacked as high as possible and then climbed. Falls and serious injuries can result.
• Challenges that put others at risk: In the “Skullbreaker Challenge,” three people stand next to each other. The person in the middle jumps up while the other two kick their legs away. The person falls and often lands on their back or head. Medical professionals warn of concussions, spinal, pelvic, and skull fractures, and even paralysis. Important context: According to the child and youth protection service, some of these challenges have received more warnings than their actual prevalence would justify — the vast majority of young people recognize that such activities are foolish. This does not change the fact that the injuries can be very real in individual cases.
• Fear and chain-letter phenomena: In the “Momo” or “Blue Whale Challenge,” participants are allegedly given dangerous or self-harming tasks and pressured through threats. Both have been linked to suicides. However, it remains unclear in both cases what is actually true and what is fake news.

Why Do So Many Young People Take Part?

There are very real reasons for this — and it is not because someone is “stupid”:

• Puberty: During adolescence (roughly from age 10 into the mid-twenties), brain regions involved in emotions and reward undergo significant development. At the same time, judgment is not yet fully mature. This can increase risk-taking — adrenaline and dopamine play an important role, and successfully completing a dare can feel great. These developmental changes can make it harder for young people to accurately assess risks.
• Likes feel like a reward: Many people measure social recognition through likes and comments. According to a UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) study, the same brain regions light up in teenagers when they receive likes as when they eat chocolate or receive money.
• The algorithm amplifies everything: The more spectacular or risky a video is, the more interaction it tends to generate — and algorithms are more likely to show exactly these kinds of videos. This can quickly create the impression that “everyone” is participating.
• Peer pressure and belonging: During adolescence, the peer group is extremely important. If people in your social circle have already participated, this can create significant pressure — especially when the challenge is issued publicly (Familienportal NRW). Often, it is about proving yourself and feeling that you belong.
• The dream of going viral: Influencers are role models, and many people hope to become famous through a challenge video. Sometimes, however, participation can also be a hidden cry for help.

What Dangers and Consequences Are There?

Physically: In pursuit of recognition or a thrill, people may cross their usual boundaries. The consequences can range from falls and burns to life-threatening injuries. Depending on the challenge, breathing difficulties, circulatory problems, fractures, concussions, permanent disabilities, coma, or, in the worst case, death are possible.

Psychologically: The pressure to participate, the fear of failing, or the fear of being publicly humiliated can be extremely stressful. Some challenges directly encourage cyberbullying by asking participants to hurt or insult others (SCHAU HIN!). Even simply watching such content can be harmful: images of burns, scars, or wounds can lower inhibitions and encourage harmful behavior.

Legally: This is often completely overlooked. Anyone who injures another person as part of a challenge can potentially be prosecuted for assault. For example, in the Skullbreaker Challenge, the people who kick the other person's legs away could be reported to the police. Anyone who helps someone make themselves unconscious may also be committing a criminal offense if something goes wrong.

Property-damage challenges fall under Section 303 of the German Criminal Code (StGB): Anyone who intentionally damages someone else's property risks a fine or imprisonment for up to two years. In Germany, criminal responsibility begins at the age of 14; from that age, juvenile criminal law applies, with an emphasis on education and rehabilitation (Section 19 StGB; Juvenile Courts Act/JGG). However, you can already be held civilly liable for damages from the age of 7 — meaning you may be responsible for cleaning or repair costs. And there is another important point: Even forwarding or sharing certain challenges can be a criminal offense.

For context: Most challenges are “flash in the pan” trends that last only a few weeks, and most dangerous dares remain marginal phenomena. Also, not every challenge you see is real — camera angles and video editing can be used to fake a lot. There is therefore no need to panic, but healthy caution is absolutely appropriate.

Can Challenges Also Have Positive Aspects?

Yes, absolutely — otherwise it would be unfair to condemn challenges across the board. The Ice Bucket Challenge attracted worldwide attention and raised donations for ALS research in 2014. Challenges can inspire people to do something positive for themselves or others, and simply recreating them together can be fun.

Skill, dance, or fitness challenges such as the “Bottle Cap Challenge” or the “Plank Challenge” are harmless and can even be motivating. The desire to compete with friends is completely normal during adolescence and should be taken seriously. It therefore makes sense to deliberately look for safe, creative challenges rather than avoiding the topic altogether.

How Can I Recognize a Dangerous Challenge?

Before participating, honestly ask yourself: Could this hurt me or someone else? These warning signs can help you assess the situation:

• Risk of injury: Does it involve falling, heights, fire, strangulation, electric shocks, or anything similar? Stay away.
• Winner/loser system with consequences: “Whoever laughs first loses” can be funny. It is not okay if the loser is threatened with violence or forced to do something unpleasant.
• Overcoming disgust or pushing boundaries: Eating excessive amounts of food or expired food can have real health consequences.
• Fear and discomfort: If you actually don't feel comfortable doing it and don't dare to participate, the fun is over.
• Exclusion or initiation ritual: If you can only join a group by completing an unpleasant or dangerous task — or are excluded if you refuse — that is a clear warning sign.

A little research can also help: Are there already reports of people being injured? Unfortunately, the absence of reports does not automatically mean something is safe — sometimes nothing has been made public because those affected are embarrassed.

Tips for Dealing with Dangerous Challenges

The most important rule is: If you feel uncomfortable with a challenge, are being pressured, or it is obviously dangerous, you do not have to and should not participate. This is not a sign of weakness — quite the opposite:

• Dare to speak up. Refusing a challenge can be much braver than participating. Often, all it takes is one person in a group to object — then others may feel comfortable doing the same.
• Stop others from doing it. If someone is planning something dangerous, openly tell them that it could be harmful.
• Get help — this is not “snitching,” but an act of civic courage. If a dangerous challenge is taking place at school or among friends, involve a teacher or trusted adult.
• Do not share dangerous challenges — not even as a warning. Every post, share, or like increases the reach of the content and may put others at risk.
• Call 112 immediately in an emergency. If someone is unconscious or seriously injured, every second counts — call the emergency medical service (112) or the police (110).
• Report the content. Dangerous or criminal challenges can be reported directly on the platform (e.g., using the reporting function on TikTok, Instagram, etc.) and to Netzmelden.de.
• Report criminal content to the police. This can be done at any police station or online through the internet police portals available in many German federal states. We are happy to support you or take care of reporting the criminal activity ourselves.
• Talk to someone you trust. Whether it is a parent, teacher, or friend, you do not have to deal with this alone — especially if the pressure is becoming overwhelming.