Can the positives outweigh the negatives when it comes to social media crazes?
Earlier this month, the Department for Education issued a warning to schools, alerting them to the re-emergence of the 'aerosol challenge'. Spreading among young people by the increasingly popular TikTok app, this craze is said to involve repeatedly spraying the same part of the body with spray deodorant. These actions are filmed and shared across the social media platform. Needless to say, this 'challenge' can lead to significant injuries.
Internet challenges and crazes emerge constantly via social media - some are proven to be hoaxes, while others become incredibly popular. But are they all bad?
For instance, the 'foot shake dance challenge' is now also making a return via TikTok - with this particular trend capturing the imagination of children and adults alike.
And now, with the election looming, a new challenge has emerged - young people have been registering to vote and challenging their friends to do so too. According to reports, nearly 1.5million young people have now registered to vote.
While some social media challenges are clearly dangerous - be they hoax or real, they are still capable of causing concern. But they can also create a wave of positive action.
Have your say
Have you had experience of social media trends in your school? What is your school doing to tackle the issue? What positive outcomes have you seen from talking to pupils about this? Let us know your thoughts and suggestions using the comments section below.
Written by
Safeguarding Essentials
on November 29, 2019 10:12
