Social media is a huge part of the lives of teens and young adults – but addiction to ‘challenge’ trends can hurt or even kill them
Social media is huge: in the United States, a combined 351 million people use Instagram (168 million) and TikTok (183 million) every month. But for teens and young adults in particular, it’s more than just a matter of passively absorbing content.
And for those following social media trends and mimicking viral challenges, it could end up involving a trip to the emergency room – or worse.
In this study, we look into the details behind the number of teen and young adult social media users, the often terrible permutations of following some social media trends, and some potential ways to address the situation, with the summer holidays on the horizon.
The Popularity – and Potential Danger – of Social Media
According to our analysis of January 2025 DataReportal study data, of the 168 million U.S. Instagram users, the age demographic breakdown is as follows – with well over a third of users under the age of 24 (39%).
Active Instagram Users (Age Range)
- 13–17 → 7% → 12.04 million
- 18–24 → 32% → 55.04 million
- 25–34 → 30.6% → 52.63 million
- 35–44 → 15.8% → 27.18 million
- 45–54 → 8.4% → 14.45 million
- 55–64 → 4.3% → 7.40 million
TikTok’s 183 million monthly active users observe a similar demographic pattern, albeit with less of a share of the under-24 age groups (32%).
Active TikTok Users (Age Range)
- 13–17 → 7% →11.9 million
- 18–24 → 25% → 42.5 million
- 25–34 → 30% → 51 million
- 35–44 → 19% → 32.3 million
- 45–54 → 13% → 22.1 million
- 55+ → 14% → 23.8 million
While a lot of social media content is ‘quick-fix’ entertainment, study data shows that the average TikTok user spends around 95 minutes per day on the app – with both Instagram and TikTok rife with social media ‘challenges’. Many of these challenges are quickly and widely shared among millions of impressionable users in their teens and early 20s and may involve significant physical risk to the participant.
TikTok’s algorithm – as has been scientifically established – is addictive. Yet its recommendation engine has been criticized for serving teens harmful content, from dangerous weight loss advice, to emotionally triggering material like self-harm confessions or trauma narratives.
According to a 2023 report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a new account masquerading as a 13-year-old user was shown eating disorder-related content within just 30 minutes of scrolling.
TikTok proactively delivers dangerous content, irrespective of browsing behavior. This raises serious concerns about the psychological impact on young users, whose brains are still developing and who are extremely vulnerable to peer validation and repetitive exposure.
The pull of TikTok content can be akin to a drug hit: impossible for many impressionable audience members to resist – especially regarding content designed to manipulate how members see themselves.
Study data confirms that teens are more likely to imitate trending videos (even from scarcely-followed accounts) if the content is relatable, funny, or exciting. Additionally, emotionally intense content increases engagement levels by up to 24%, and accounts for nearly 40% of overall interaction.
Social media challenges depend on a sense of belonging, and platforms like TikTok reward mimicry through perpetuated algorithmic boosts and peer approval in the form of likes, shares, and comments.
Validation among a user’s demographic, not follower count, is often the primary motivator. Ultimately social media’s threat isn’t just from influencers – it’s from anyone with a camera and a mic who can make a user feel recognized, seen, and represented.
With a combined near-100 million high-risk 13- to 24-year-old users across both platforms, it’s no surprise when dangerous trends spread like wildfire – with often unfortunate consequences.
How ‘At-Risk’ Is Each Age Group?
Age 13 – 17
As Science Direct data shows us, this is the age group most likely to take risks. At this age, a person’s prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain that polices impulse control and assesses danger) isn’t fully developed.
One of the consequences of this is that 13-17-year-olds are highly susceptible to peer pressure, are more likely to desire social validation, and often put the need for likes above what makes logical sense.
These factors put this demographic at considerable injury risk, and amongst all TikTok and Instagram users the most likely to end up in the emergency room after carrying out a social media challenge.
Age 18 – 24
While 18-24-year-olds are still frequently impulsive and routinely chase social validation, they possess a better-developed risk awareness than younger teens.
That said, many dangerous social media trends do well amongst this age group due to a significant gym culture and a desire to claim peer kudos – in particular, challenges involving the opportunity to show off physical prowess or daring. This means that 18-24-year-olds represent a medium-to-high level of injury risk.
Ages 25–34
25-34-year-olds are less likely to take risks than earlier age groups. That said, they’re still susceptible to popular trends — especially challenges tied to health, fitness, or humor.
And while this group is less likely to initiate dangerous challenges, they may still participate in some, especially on TikTok, where viral popularity tends to skew slightly older.
Ages 35+
The 35+ demographic is a low-risk group that mainly watches challenge content, rather than participating in it. They’re also more likely to share cautionary or parental commentary; and, they’re often the age group tasked with taking the most at-risk audience to the emergency room.
The Potentially Dire Consequences of Social Media Challenges
But what is ‘challenge’ content? Social media challenge videos often encourage users to mimic trending stunts they’ve seen online and then share their version for public attention.
Yet many stunts are much more dangerous than the relatively well-known ‘ice-bucket challenge’, with some – such as the following examples – crossing into seriously risky and sometimes life-threatening territory.
The Blackout Challenge, most commonly attempted by 10-14-year-olds, involves individuals intentionally denying themselves oxygen until they lose consciousness: the goal is to thus experience a brief euphoric state.
This challenge is extremely dangerous. According to Bitdefender data, it can cause health consequences ranging from minor to severe, including:
- Bloodshot eyes
- Severe headaches
- Damage to neck tissue and blood vessels
- Brain damage
- Death.
Over 100 people have died after undertaking this challenge (at least, that’s the official number – the real figure may be much higher).
The Tide Pod Challenge, most often attempted by 10-14-year-olds, involves eating or biting into a laundry pod. Between 2016 and 2020, study data confirms 35,000 emergency room visits (after which hospitalization was required in 12.5% of cases) for under-18 Tide Pod Challenge participants.
Associated injuries from this challenge have included:
- Chemical burns
- Seizures
- Vomiting
- Breathing difficulties
- Vision problems
- Poisoning (71.3% of cases)
- Contact dermatitis (72.2% of cases).
The Milk Crate Challenge, most popular with 15-18-year-olds, resulted in 8,107 emergency-room treated injuries during 2020-21. It involves stacking milk crates into a pyramid and then attempting to ascend them as though they’re a set of stairs.
Unfortunately, the following injuries (and even death) can afflict participants:
- Concussion
- Bruises and scrapes (26.5% of cases)
- Muscle/ligament strains (23% of cases)
- Broken bones (13.3%)
- Cuts and gashes (10.1% of cases)
- Dislocated shoulders
- Spinal cord injuries/paralysis.
In the majority of cases, injuries are caused by falling off the crates (32%), hitting the crates without falling (23%), or tripping over the crates (12.9%).
The Fire Challenge, most popular amongst 10-14-year-olds, requires participants to pour small amounts of rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer on their body and then set it alight, before dousing the flames with water.
It’s not difficult to imagine some of the more serious permutations of this dangerous challenge. They include:
- Severe burns and scarring – in some cases up to 45-50% of a victim’s body area
- Respiratory damage
- Infections
- Death.
The Benadryl Challenge involves taking between 12–14 Benadryl tablets to induce hallucinations and then filming the reactions. Consequences from participation in this challenge include:
- Seizures
- Breathing difficulties
- Severe dizziness
- Heart problems
- Coma
- Death.
In recent years, hospitals have reported spikes in emergency room visits due to social media stunts, with pediatric departments overwhelmed, and some children’s hospitals reporting a 20–30% increase in injuries directly caused by ‘challenge’ stunt mimicry.
Study data tells us that ‘The Benadryl Challenge’ alone has led to the hospitalization of many young people, with at least one reported teen death linked to the stunt. ‘The Milk Crate Challenge’ has led to a wave of concussions and broken bones across the country.
According to the CDC, nearly 1 in 4 teens say they’ve participated in a dangerous online trend or challenge, with many digital dares spreading faster than parents or schools can react.
Most of us were once impressionable, impulsive kids, eager to impress our friends and follow the crowd. However, the continuing popularity of social media challenges that tread a fine line between entertainment and self-endangerment emphasizes the inherent danger of many viral trends to younger generations.
Daily exposure to TikTok or Instagram content can all too easily lead to a trip to the emergency room, a broken bone, or a premature demise. Fleeting trends can have long-lasting, devastating effects.
And, should the worst happen and a viral challenge go wrong, the damage can quickly extend to financial nightmares that no filter can fix. Families are often stunned to discover that injuries resulting from a disastrous social media stunt are often not covered under standard health, accident, or liability insurance policies.
Such exclusions leave families footing a hefty bill: emergency care, surgeries, long-term physical therapy, and sometimes even follow-up mental health services. According to a FAIR Health report, the average emergency room visit in the U.S. costs more than $2,400, with hospitalizations for trauma-related injuries ranging between $20,000 to $80,000, depending on severity and length of stay.
Add to these costs additional lost income from missed work, or legal expenses if other people are harmed, and that ‘fun’ viral moment can quickly become a six-figure financial crisis.
Some insurers have even begun updating policies to accommodate the rise in social-media-related injury claims, classifying some injuries as ‘self-inflicted’ or ‘avoidable.’ That means a teenager’s attempt to copy a challenge – whether that’s ingesting something dangerous, jumping from heights, or using inadequate equipment – could disqualify a family’s insurance claim and leave them doubly devastated.
This campaign seeks to emphasize the growing disconnect between the compulsion to carry out digital dares and the subsequent significant physical consequences.
Ultimately, we want every young person who might potentially participate, their parents, their educators, and those running the platforms to reconsider the comparative value of ‘likes’ and ‘lives’.
All young people are one misguided TikTok- or Instagram-hosted challenge away from an early grave: they badly need to be better informed of any related dangers before and whilst they’re interacting with potentially deadly content.
Everyone in a position to influence younger generations’ interaction with dangerous viral trends needs to do their bit much better to save lives. Better filters and less algorithmic manipulation would certainly help.
Medical experts agree on the severity of the problem: Rebecca Andrews, chair of ACP’s Board of Regents and a practicing internal medicine physician in Connecticut has the following to say about the dangers of viral challenges to young people.
“The pursuit of social media popularity through viral challenges can pose significant public health concerns, as these trends may encourage behaviors that lead to physical injury, psychological distress, and long-term health consequences—particularly among impressionable youth.
As a health care physician, this is a concerning trend that can lead to serious repercussions; and as a mother debunking these myths and trends can be life-saving for our children.”
At Omega Law Group, our attorneys can help you with any accident and injury queries. Get in touch today for more information.
