Over the past few months, a new and dangerous trend has emerged on the social media platform TikTok. Many teens and young adults have been posting videos of themselves consuming large amounts of corn syrup. This troubling trend appears to have started as some kind of viral challenge, with people trying to eat or drink entire bottles of corn syrup in one sitting. As with many viral challenges, it has gained a lot of traction and popularity among younger TikTok users. However, health experts warn that this challenge poses serious health risks that teenagers may not fully understand.
What is the Corn Syrup Challenge?
The corn syrup challenge involves people, usually teenagers, attempting to consume entire bottles of corn syrup on camera in one sitting. They then post the video on TikTok. Corn syrup is a popular sweetener that is made from cornstarch. It is commonly used in baking and cooking to add sweetness and texture to foods. However, it is not meant to be consumed in such large quantities on its own.
The videos usually show participants chugging corn syrup directly from the bottle, trying to get it down as fast as possible. Some people add extra challenges like trying not to vomit or doing it within a certain time limit. The corn syrup challenge appears to have started sometime in 2022 and gained popularity on TikTok in the latter half of the year. Teens and young adults often participate solo, in groups, or as part of online dares.
Why is it Dangerous?
Health experts strongly caution against participating in the corn syrup challenge. Consuming high amounts of straight corn syrup can be extremely dangerous and lead to serious health consequences. Here are some of the major risks:
– Severe digestive issues – Large amounts of undiluted corn syrup can wreak havoc on the digestive system. It can cause painful cramping, bloating, gas, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The high sugar content essentially overwhelms the digestive tract.
– Spiking blood sugar – Corn syrup is nearly entirely made up of sugars, with very little protein or fat. Consuming excessive amounts can cause a person’s blood sugar to spike rapidly. In severe cases, this can even induce hyperglycemia or hyperinsulinemia.
– Nutritional imbalances – Large doses of pure corn syrup flood the body with sugar and carbohydrates without any other nutrients. This can impair the body’s electrolyte balance and hydration status.
– Damage to organs – High fructose corn syrup has been linked to potential damage to the liver and kidneys if consumed in extreme excess. The corn syrup challenge could put these vital organs at risk.
– Choking hazard – Trying to consume entire bottles of thick, viscous corn syrup very quickly poses a legitimate choking risk. The syrup is sticky and difficult to swallow rapidly.
– Weight gain – A single bottle of corn syrup can contain over 1,000 calories. The rapid consumption of huge amounts of calories is likely to cause immediate weight gain.
– Tooth decay – Heavy consumption of sugar and corn syrup wreaks havoc on tooth enamel and oral health. It puts participants at risk for extensive tooth decay and cavities.
Deaths and Serious Illnesses
Unfortunately, the corn syrup challenge has already led to reported deaths and serious health emergencies. In October 2022, a teenage girl from Queensland, Australia died after reportedly attempting the corn syrup challenge. Her cause of death was initially described as unexplained. However, friends later revealed that she had consumed over a liter of corn syrup for a TikTok challenge prior to her death.
This tragic case highlights the very real dangers of participating in this viral trend solely for social media fame. Consuming excessive amounts of corn syrup can have devastating consequences, including seizures, liver damage, electrolyte imbalances, diabetes, and even death in extreme situations.
In addition to the death in Australia, media reports have covered other incidents stemming from the corn syrup challenge:
– A boy in Ohio drank nearly an entire bottle of corn syrup and had to be hospitalized for cellulitis, a bacterial skin infection that spread to his organs.
– A teen girl experienced multiple seizures after attempting the challenge and needed intensive medical treatment.
– A 12-year old boy was admitted to the ICU after drinking corn syrup mixed with carbonated beverages that reacted and caused excessive vomiting.
– Several cases of teens being taken to emergency rooms with extreme abdominal pain, vomiting, racing heart rates, and difficulty breathing after taking part in the corns syrup challenge.
These examples demonstrate just how risky this TikTok trend really is. Engaging in such extreme consumption of corn syrup can truly endanger lives and lead to lasting medical problems. The health risks clearly outweigh any social media fame or attention participants may gain.
Why Did This Become a Viral Trend?
Public health experts and parenting advocates have expressed concern over how the corn syrup challenge ever managed to take off as a viral TikTok dare. There are a few factors that likely contributed to its popularity and spread online:
– General risk-taking among youth – Adolescents and teens have a tendency towards impulsive risk-taking as their brains continue to mature. Many do not fully grasp long-term consequences.
– Lack of parental awareness – Many parents are unaware of the trend and fail to talk to their kids about the dangers of such viral challenges.
– Peer pressure – Teens often partake in risky online dares to win approval from peers or become popular at school.
– Competition for views – There is fierce competition for views, likes and followers on TikTok. Riskier, more dangerous challenges tend to get more engagement.
– Assumption of invincibility – Younger people often have a false sense of invincibility. They may not believe they are personally vulnerable to adverse effects.
– Lack of regulation – Social platforms like TikTok have limited regulation, oversight, or fact checking. Harmful challenges can spread rapidly through algorithms.
– Boredom and entertainment – Participating in extreme challenges provides entertainment and an escape from boredom for teens stuck at home.
The corn syrup challenge emerged out of a perfect storm of youth risk-taking behavior and unconstrained social media dare trends. However, it is critical that parents, educators, and platforms like TikTok take action to protect youth from harmful online influences.
TikTok’s Response
In light of the obvious dangers posed by the corn syrup challenge, TikTok has taken some steps to discourage participation and spread. When searching terms related to the challenge, the platform displays a public service announcement advising against taking part in the trend.
TikTok also appears to be actively working to remove videos that depict the corn syrup challenge. Search results yield very few recent examples of users actually consuming large amounts of corn syrup on camera. TikTok’s content moderation algorithms seem to be identifying and taking down such videos rapidly.
However, critics argue TikTok needs to do more to get ahead of emerging harmful challenges and better protect their young user base. The platform has become ground zero for risky viral stunts like this. Some additional steps advocates call for include:
– Proactively banning hashtags and keywords related to dangerous challenges before they go viral
– Using algorithms and moderation to detect and remove copycat trends before they spread
– Promoting authoritative content explaining the health dangers of challenges like the corn syrup trend
– Making it easier for users to report dangerous challenges directly to TikTok
– Collaborating directly with health organizations to identify developing risky trends
– Adding more age verification controls and parental oversight options
Social media platforms have a duty to keep their young users safe. TikTok must take decisive action to clamp down on challenges promoting behavior that puts lives at risk or causes harm. With its immense reach, TikTok has become ground zero for the spread of risky teen viral stunts. They must do better at getting ahead of these troubling trends before they spiral out of control.
Advice for Parents
Parents, guardians, teachers and any trusted adults have an important role to play in teaching teenagers about the risks of online challenges like the corn syrup trend. Here is some advice on how to broach the issue:
– Have an open, non-judgmental conversation. Ask if they have heard about the trend and discuss your concerns. Avoid lecturing.
– Listen to their perspective and why they may be tempted to try it. Look for underlying issues.
– Explain how social media challenges can go horribly wrong, leading to lasting health damage or death.
– Make sure they know the dangers of excessive corn syrup consumption. It is not harmless.
– Set clear expectations that they should not replicate harmful challenges and stunts.
– Monitor what apps they are using and who they are interacting with online.
– Encourage them to tell you about any risky online activities they encounter.
– Strengthen your relationship and increase discussions around online safety.
– Limit unsupervised internet access via phones if necessary.
– Share alternative online challenges that encourage creativity without danger.
The allure of social media fame is powerful for young people. But we must educate them effectively on making smart choices online, using caution with viral stunts, and resisting dangerous peer pressure.
Positive Ways Teens Can Use TikTok
When used responsibly, TikTok offers many positive outlets for teenagers to express themselves, showcase talents, and have fun with friends. Here are some examples of how teens can use TikTok safely:
– Creating original dance or comedy skits
– Trying out silly Filter effects and voice changers
– Making music videos or lip-sync performances
– Showing off art, cooking, DIY projects or other skills
– Starting discussions or campaigns about social causes
– Giving first-person accounts of interesting experiences
– Promoting small businesses, creative projects or volunteer work
– Building connections with other creators and fans worldwide
– Hosting live streams with Q&As or board game nights with friends
– Posting positive body image content and self-confidence boosting messages
The key for teens is to focus on what makes TikTok fun for them, while avoiding unsafe viral stunts created solely for shock value. Pursuing passions and creating in positive communities leads to a much more meaningful and enriching experience.
Healthy Ways for Teens to Manage Boredom
Boredom and an impulse for excitement often fuel teenagers’ interest in online challenges promising viral fame. When bored, they may be more likely to pursue these risky activities. However, there are many healthier ways for teens to stimulate their minds and spend their free time meaningfully. Here are some ideas:
– Read an engaging fiction or fantasy book that sweeps you into another world. Get lost in an epic story.
– Channel creativity through art, music, writing, crafts, coding or DIY projects. Follow your inspiration.
– Learn a new skill online via tutorials on everything from guitar to photography. Level up your knowledge.
– Take up a new active hobby like skateboarding, hiking, dance or martial arts. Stay fit.
– Volunteer virtually or locally to help meaningful causes and connect with your community.
– Reconnect with friends for games, activities and conversations unrelated to social media.
– Set new goals for self-improvement around fitness, academics or life skills. Invest in yourself.
– Immerse yourself in a story-driven video game full of adventure and discovery. Explore new worlds.
Rather than giving in to boredom by seeking quick thrills online, teens can find more purpose through creative pursuits, active hobbies, learning and service. There are so many ways to spend your time that enrich your life while avoiding danger.
Conclusion
In summary, the TikTok corn syrup challenge is an extremely troubling viral trend that has emerged among teenagers across social media. It involves youth posting videos of themselves consuming entire bottles of corn syrup quickly as a viral stunt. However, this practice is very dangerous and has already been linked to deaths and serious medical emergencies.
Consuming excessive amounts of pure corn syrup poses major risks like digestive issues, blood sugar spikes, nutrition deficits, organ damage, and more. While TikTok has taken some steps to discourage the trend, experts say technology platforms, parents, educators, and society as a whole need to do more to protect youth online.
Rather than engaging in risky viral challenges that can endanger health, young people should be empowered to use social media more positively. We all must promote smarter online behaviors and real world alternatives that tap into teenagers’ creativity and passions, while steering their focus towards enriching pursuits that drive connection, meaning and self-growth. With care, guidance and engagement, we can help alleviate boredom through pathways far more constructive than anything social media viral fame can offer.
