8 Internet Challenges That Went Wildly Out of Control

Challenges and dares are as old as boredom. In the ’50s, people stuffed themselves into phone booths, while in the ’30s, they swallowed goldfish; the ’90s introduced us to “ding-dong ditch.” But the internet strapped jet engines onto that impulse and yelled, “ARE YOU FILMING THIS?” Overnight, clout became a currency, and common sense suddenly got paywalled. We all remember the wholesome ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which raised money and boosted awareness with minimal idiocy. Sadly, the web’s attention economy also rewards stunts that confuse “viral” with “vital signs.”

Why do people do this? Peer pressure, performative bravery, and the enduring human belief that “rules don’t apply to me” all contribute to this behavior, until physics and chemistry intervene. Think of this as a friendly public service announcement, accompanied by an eye-roll, regarding 8 online dares that transitioned from being goofy to becoming grim.

1. Neknominate

Nothing says “wise decision-making” like speed-chugging liquor on camera and then escalating it with dangerous stunts. It started as a boozy dare and quickly turned into a contest of “how close can I skate to disaster?” It’s been linked to the multiple deaths of real people. If your friends “nominate” you to do something reckless, consider unfriending the dare, not the people. Then maybe unfollow the people, too.