List of Internet Challenges and Urban Legends You Need to Know

The internet can be a wild place, full of strange and fascinating phenomena. The Kiki challenge, where people dance to Drake's song in the middle of the road, was a viral sensation that spread across the globe.

Some internet challenges can be harmless, but others can be downright scary. The Blue Whale challenge, for example, was a disturbing trend that encouraged users to self-harm.

The Tide Pod challenge was a strange trend where kids ate laundry detergent packets, thinking they were candy. This challenge led to many reported cases of poisoning.

Some internet challenges can also be a reflection of societal issues. The Ice Bucket challenge, for example, raised awareness about ALS, a debilitating disease that affects many people worldwide.

Expand your knowledge: Azure Challenges

Internet hoaxes and urban legends can be particularly tricky to navigate. Many fake news or satirical news websites, such as The Onion, share "news stories" and intentionally post hoaxes and misinformation.

Youth may not always know what is real and what isn't online. They may not truly know what is safe and what is dangerous. This lack of awareness can lead to participation in potentially hazardous trends.

Some internet hoaxes and urban legends have been particularly concerning, such as eating liquid laundry detergent pods because they resemble candy.

Suggestion: Do Not Call List

Internet hoaxes and urban legends can be found on the internet and social media, and they often spread quickly. They can range from putting peppermint lip balm on your eyelids to create a buzzed sensation to eating liquid laundry detergent pods because they resemble candy.

Youth have access to tons of information online, including misinformation and fake news. Many fake news or satirical news websites share "news stories" and intentionally post hoaxes and misinformation.

The internet gives youth access to tons of information, including misinformation and fake news. The challenges, hoaxes, and urban legends can be very misleading and sometimes youth don't know what is real and what isn't.

Tide Pod Challenge is one example of a challenge that was trending online. YouTube has since taken down videos of youth participating in this dangerous challenge.

You might like: Internet Access

The 24-Hour Fort Challenge is a viral trend where someone creates a "fort" in a large store and hides out for 24 hours. This can lead to trespassing charges and has resulted in individuals facing criminal consequences.

Some people who have undertaken this challenge have uploaded videos to YouTube, seeking fame. However, this has also led to younger children taking the challenge and causing large-scale searches when their parents report them missing.

Hiding out in a store after it closes is essentially trespassing, and security may not take kindly to it. This can lead to a range of consequences, from warnings to arrest.

The 24-Hour Fort Challenge seems harmless, but it can have serious repercussions, especially for younger participants. It's essential to consider the potential risks before attempting such a challenge.

If this caught your attention, see: Internet Challenge

The Momo and Blue Whale Challenges are two internet phenomena that have been making headlines in recent years. They are often associated with self-harm and suicide.

The Momo Challenge has been circulating since approximately 2018, with users reporting that a user named Momo enticed youth to perform dangerous acts. This has left many people worried.

Reputable tech blogger, Larry Magid, has written about the Momo Challenge, expressing concerns about misinformation spreading. His column highlights the importance of verifying information before sharing it.

The Blue Whale Challenge is another concerning trend that has been linked to self-harm and suicide. It allegedly involved getting participants to do 50 days of increasingly horrifying self-harming activities that culminated in suicide.

Philipp Budeikin, the alleged creator of the Blue Whale Challenge, pleaded guilty to creating the challenge in 2017. He was held on charges of inciting 16 teenage girls to commit suicide.

It's worth noting that despite the alarming nature of these challenges, there are no confirmed suicides directly linked to the Blue Whale Challenge. However, at least two American teenage suicides are suspected of being linked to it.

Planking, a trend that started in March 2011 with Australian pro rugby player David Williams, involved lying face down in unusual public spaces and taking a picture to share online.

This challenge was all about being in the right place at the right time, and Williams' action sparked a global phenomenon.

The Mannequin Challenge, on the other hand, was all about standing still and looking cool, with a group of people freezing in place while a camera captured their poses.

It took off in office places in Malaysia, including one where Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir and local politicians joined in, setting a new standard for workplace participation.

The Samyang Challenge, which emerged in 2016, was a spicy affair, where people had to eat a whole packet of fiery noodles in record time and share their accomplishment on social media.

Some participants even upped the ante by not allowing themselves to drink anything to relieve the heat, making it a true test of endurance.

The Bottle Flip Challenge, which became a hit in 2016, involved throwing a plastic bottle so that it landed upright on a flat surface, with a YouTube video of Mike Senatore's dramatic flip sparking the trend.

Bottle flipping quickly became a global phenomenon, with teenagers around the world, including in Malaysia, taking part in the challenge.

The Running Man Challenge, which also emerged in 2016, involved performing a dance that resembled running to Ghost Town DJ's hit 'My Boo'.

It started with University of Maryland basketball players Jared Nickens and Jaylen Brantley, who posted their rendition, and soon spread to professional sports athletes and even the police in Malaysia.

The Bottle Cap Challenge, which started in June 2019, involved performing a roundhouse kick to a bottle to make it spin off, with celebrities like local actor Hairul Azreen showing off their skills.

You might like: Internet in Malaysia

The dance and music challenges of the internet have been a staple of online culture for years. Gangnam Style, released in 2012, broke the internet and started a dance trend that lasted for months.

PSY's music video was a game-changer, with people recreating the video for themselves because they couldn't get enough of it. The dance trend was a huge success, with its catchy beat and memorable choreography.

In 2013, flash mobs became a thing, with large groups of people performing in perfect coordination before dispersing again. People would often see new videos every week on Facebook, showcasing the creativity and coordination of these groups.

The Harlem Shake, started by YouTuber Filthy Frank, was another dance challenge that took the internet by storm. The videos would start with one person dancing or acting strange in a room full of people going about their routine, before suddenly breaking into the Harlem Shake dance.

The Harlem Shake challenge became more ridiculous as it went on, with people adding their own twists and variations to the dance. It was a fun and lighthearted challenge that brought people together and created a sense of community online.

In 2018, the 'In My Feelings' Challenge, also known as the 'Keke Challenge', became a viral sensation. People would dance to the song 'In My Feelings' by Drake, often jumping out of moving cars and performing the dance as the driver recorded the video.

Charity and Awareness Challenges are a vital part of the internet's impact on social causes.

The Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014 raised awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, with millions of people participating worldwide.

Malaysian politicians and celebrities like then Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and badminton star Lee Chong Wei joined in, screaming as they drenched themselves with ice-cold water.

The Cinnamon Challenge is a trend that's been making headlines for all the wrong reasons. It involves eating a teaspoon or tablespoon of cinnamon in a minute, but it's not as harmless as it sounds.

Cinnamon doesn't dissolve in water or saliva, making it difficult to swallow. The Cinnamon Challenge has led to medical concerns, with some children ending up in the hospital.

The problem isn't actually eating and digesting the cinnamon, but rather the cinnamon dust that gets inhaled. Cinnamon dust can be extremely harmful to the lungs, causing burns or corrosion of tissue.

In 2012, the American Association of Poison Control Centers received 222 calls related to the Cinnamon Challenge. This trend has left kids with throat irritation, respiratory issues, and even collapsed lungs.

Sixteen-year-old Dejah Reed was hospitalized for a collapsed lung after trying the cinnamon challenge. She now uses an inhaler to control asthma she never had before the incident.

A 4-year-old boy named Matthew Radar accidentally asphyxiated and died after inhaling cinnamon powder. His mother's story serves as a cautionary tale to deter kids from attempting the internet trend.

Expand your knowledge: How Old Is Internet Explorer

The Ice Bucket Challenge was a massive phenomenon in 2014, with millions of people worldwide dumping buckets of ice-cold water over their heads to raise awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

In just one year, the challenge became a global sensation, with even Malaysian politicians and celebrities joining in, including then Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and badminton star Lee Chong Wei.

The Salt and Ice Challenge is a very dangerous internet phenomenon where people, including children, have been putting salt and ice together on their bodies. This challenge can cause severe burns and frostbite.

Mixing salt and ice causes a chemical reaction that induces frostbite.

The challenge involves seeing how long you can withstand keeping the salt and ice on your body.

Several young children have been rushed to the emergency room with severe burns on their arms after giving themselves frostbite.

One child even said that he left it on for so long because it “didn’t even hurt” when they burned themselves.

The Cinnamon Challenge is a viral trend that involves eating a teaspoon or tablespoon of cinnamon in a minute. It's a feat that sounds easy, but is actually extremely hard and can be very damaging to your health.

Eating a teaspoon of cinnamon in a minute is difficult because cinnamon doesn't dissolve in water or saliva, making it hard to swallow. This can lead to medical concerns and even hospitalizations.

The Cinnamon Challenge can trigger the gag reflex, causing you to inhale cinnamon dust, which can be extremely harmful to your lungs. Cinnamon dust is caustic, meaning it can burn or corrode tissue.

In 2012, the American Association of Poison Control Centers received 222 calls related to the Cinnamon Challenge, resulting in kids experiencing throat irritation, respiratory issues, and even collapsed lungs.

Sixteen-year-old Dejah Reed was hospitalized for a collapsed lung after trying the cinnamon challenge and now has to use an inhaler to control asthma she never had before.