Editorial | Milk Crate Challenge is unsafe and stupid

Social media challenges have become routine. From the Blackout challenge to the Trip Jump Challenge and several others in between, these stunts have become the rage, and millions over the world are caught up in the frenzy. Some are harmless while others can be harmful.

Dominating social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter this week is the latest one called the Milk Crate Challenge, which involves stacking plastic milk crates to create a tower and then climbing and descending those wobbly ‘stairs’ without any support.

What is the point of this challenge? Besides testing one’s balance and coordination, it seems designed for entertainment value only, the kind of sick humour that provokes laughter at the expense of others who are suffering some kind of misfortune. Few persons will be able to complete the challenge flawlessly. The majority who attempt this stunt will take a tumble, to the amusement of onlookers who will use their phones to capture the act and then post it to social media.

And yes, Jamaicans have accepted this latest challenge, which, from all appearances, looks as dangerous as it is stupid.

One regional manufacturer, Carib Brewery, whose products are stacked in crates, has appealed to persons to be responsible, warning: “With everyone’s best interest in mind, we kindly encourage you to not engage in this challenge or attempt the use of crates or any such object to promote or participate in this current trend or similar activities. Already, it has led to serious bodily damage and can result in loss of life.”

SERIOUS INJURY

Local doctors and safety experts have also warned about the possibility of serious injury from a likely fall. Injuries could range from broken limbs to torn ligaments, to spinal damage, and ultimately, death. It is unclear whether anyone here has sustained serious injury, but it appears that challengers stand to gain nothing else but profound regrets.

Of course, with COVID-19 cases overwhelming the healthcare system, finding a hospital bed for a self-inflicted injury may not be easy for victims of the crate challenge. As an illustration of the concern being caused by this craze, a hospital in Baltimore, USA, sent out the following tweet earlier this week: “With COVID-19 hospitalisations rising around the country, please check with your local hospital to see if they have a bed available for you before attempting the #milkcratechallenge.” From all reports, Jamaica is already dealing with a serious case of overcrowding.

Coming so close on the heels of the Olympic Games, where the world was treated to some of the most enviable displays of athleticism, some people surmise that the Milk Crate Challenge was designed to give ordinary persons an opportunity to show off their skills and athletic abilities. Bu, as we have seen in some of the videos, this is a tough challenge, one so inherently dangerous that it has been nicknamed ‘Hood Olympics’.

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

Social media sites are always opening portals to new trends as they seek to pull in audiences, and they must take some responsibility for the effect of the content they put out. This particular challenge is believed to have started as a viral challenge on TikTok, and, after concerned voices were raised, TikTok had this to say: “TikTok prohibits content that promotes, normalizes, or glorifies dangerous acts, and we remove videos and redirect searches to our community guidelines to discourage such content. We encourage everyone to exercise caution in their behaviour whether online or offline.”

TikTok’s disabling the ability to search for ‘milk crate challenge’ and removing some of the videos of the challenge may not be enough to douse the fire lit by this risky activity.

While many social media challenges may be hilarious and harmless, parents need to recognise that this crate craze is not a trend to be encouraged. Parents also need to be aware that many dangers lurk on social media, and they should try to get ahead of these situations so that they can help gauge their children’s response.

Some of these social media trends fade. This could not happen too soon for the Milk Crate Challenge.