Teen Hospitalized After Dangerous Social Media Challenge

A teenager in St. Petersburg, Florida, was hospitalized after attempting a hazardous social media challenge that involved a jam jar and rubbing alcohol. The young individual suffered significant burns while trying to create a jet engine-like effect. Emergency services responded swiftly, highlighting the growing concern over injuries linked to viral online trends.

Dr. Jasmine Patterson, the medical director of the pediatric emergency room at Muma Children’s Hospital at Tampa General Hospital, addressed the alarming rise in cases related to such challenges. As a recognized regional burn center and level one trauma facility, Tampa General has seen an increase in patients aged between 14 and 18 who were injured while trying to replicate dangerous social media antics.

Rising Trend of Social Media Injuries

Dr. Patterson noted, “I’d say probably a few years ago is when I started to see the bad burns from these viral social media challenges and this new jar challenge. We’ve definitely treated some burns related to that.” The challenge involves filling a jam jar with rubbing alcohol and igniting it, a process that has led to serious injuries and, in some instances, devastating outcomes.

Videos circulating on various social media platforms have shown individuals engaging in this dangerous activity, often without understanding the potential risks involved. “They’re seeing these challenges and thinking it looks pretty cool, and then they try it out,” Dr. Patterson explained. The flames generated can reach extremely high temperatures, resulting in glass melting or even exploding, posing significant dangers to anyone nearby.

Parental Guidance Essential

In light of these incidents, Dr. Patterson emphasizes the importance of parental supervision and proactive discussions with children about the dangers of online trends. “You need to be proactive, start the conversation with your child that some things are put on social media that are not safe for kids, not even safe for adults sometimes,” she stated.

Dr. Patterson encourages parents to engage in conversations with their children about the content they encounter online. She advises families to review videos together, assess their safety, and ensure that children are supervised if they decide to participate in any challenges. “You and your child need to look through the videos together, talk things through, and decide if it’s even something worth anyone doing, and then you need to be there for your kid and supervise any challenge,” said Dr. Patterson.

As the trend of risky social media challenges continues to grow, the message from medical professionals remains clear: safety must always come first. Parents are urged to stay informed and vigilant, ensuring that their children navigate the online world with caution.