TikTok being one of the most popular social media platforms is an understatement. From its humble beginnings in China to its acquisition of Musical.ly, it became the biggest and most popular social media app in the world, putting Facebook and Instagram in second and third place, per Business of Apps.
However, with this much popularity going on, there's bound to be something that mucks up the experience, as some people are willing to do whatever it takes to become TikTok famous.
Unfortunately, some of the things people do on TikTok's platform are downright dangerous just to get people's attention. Although TikTok is allegedly doing its best to remove such content, its moderation is far from perfect despite improvements.
Here are some TikTok controversial or even outright dangerous trends that you, or anyone for that matter, do:
Fractal Wood Burning
Fractal Wood Burning may sound like an exotic technique of creating artwork using electricity, but its simplicity is deceptively fatal.
Dexerto mentioned that the technique involves using high voltage electricity and a piece of wood soaked in a chemical solution to burn tree-like patterns into the wood.
Although the technique attracted thousands to attempt it, the Marathon County Sheriff's office warned people to leave the exotic technique to professionals following the deaths of two people in Wisconsin trying the technique out.
Blackout Challenge
The infamous Blackout Challenge is something we have covered in detail. GoodTo's article claimed that the challenge was already around as early as 1995, but was brought back to relevance thanks to social media.
The challenge involves users suffocating themselves or holding their breath until they pass out due to the brain not receiving enough oxygen to function.
To date, it has claimed the lives of at least five children thanks to TikTok, who has allegedly removed the hashtag for the challenge on March 13.
Penny Challenge
The premise behind the Penny Challenge is simple: people putting or sliding a penny or some pennies behind a partially plugged phone charger, per PopBuzz.
Unfortunately, the challenge has led to the electrocution of many people and even caused some fires and serious lifelong injuries. CyberPurify cited an incident at Plymouth North High School as a good example of the challenge's negative effects.
Orbeez Challenge
Water balloons sometimes make a fun way to spend hot summer days away while cooling off at the same time. Other times, they can cause bodily harm to people if taken too seriously.
That's what two teenagers found out the hard way after they shot a dozen people with an Orbeez gun, which is a toy gun loaded with Orbeez water beads, per NBC Miami. These water beads could be frozen to inflict more damage to the body, causing bruising to the victim.
The two teenagers were charged with misdemeanor battery and felony battery.
Skull Breaker Challenge
The Skull Breaker challenge is perhaps the most dangerous of the TikTok trends and challenges from the name alone. Sportskeeda described the challenge as having a group of people jumping next to each other. One of the three would kick out the third's feet from under them, causing them to fall backward on their head.
Health experts have condemned the challenge for causing "serious and life-threatening injuries" like skull fracture, paralysis, and even death, true to the challenge's name.
