Reading Time: 4.7 mins

Published: July 11, 2025

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Online challenges, trends or hoaxes appear frequently on social media or other online platforms. They can vary, but often encourage viewers to harm themselves, others or property in order to gain online recognition or popularity.

When an online challenge is reported in the news or media, it can be difficult to establish the facts and understand what you need to do to protect the children or young people in your care.

What Is an Online Challenge?

Challenges usually involve people recording themselves doing something difficult or silly, which they share online and encourage others to repeat. They can range from harmless to dangerous, depending on the action being carried out.

Hoax challenges are a subcategory where the challenge is fake, usually materialised through misleading social media posts. These intend to frighten the viewer and can include distressing themes such as self-harm or suicide.

Why Do Online Challenges Attract Young People?

  • They are naturally curious.
  • There is an element of excitement when taking part in something risky.
  • They believe it might help them fit in with their peers or make them feel ‘included’.
  • The desire for popularity, whether that’s in person or through likes, views and follows online.
  • If they see others doing it, they think it is normal.

What Are the Risks?

Physical Health

Challenges often involve actions that can cause injury to the person or others around them. Some can lead to serious injury or even death in some cases.

Participating in these challenges can be addictive as there can be social pressure among young people to take part. The consequences of engaging in the activities can have long term effects, for example, if there are addictive substances involved. Additionally, some online challenges involve humiliating or harassing others online, which can have a drastic impact on the individual’s self-esteem and overall mental health.

Actions such as harassment, possession of illegal substances, or anti-social behaviour can cause offenders to face fines or even prison time.

Participation in online challenges can make them seem acceptable and contributes to the spread of them. This can perpetuate a cycle where uninformed individuals feel pressured to engage in increasingly dangerous activities to maintain status or recognition.

Social media challenges, particularly those involving illegal or harmful activities, can have long-term consequences on future opportunities, including education, employment, and relationships. Content shared online can be accessible to others indefinitely.

What Can You Do?

Stay Calm

It’s natural to feel worried or concerned, particularly if you are questioning whether a child or young person in your care is being encouraged to participate.

Engage in Calm and Open Conversations

  • Choose the right moment, where you both aren’t distracted, such as a car journey or a walk.
  • Don’t rush it or become confrontational as this can be counterproductive.
  • Use open questions that encourage more than a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ answer. For example, “why do you think people get involved in dangerous challenges?”.
  • Listen, allow them time to speak, embrace the potential awkwardness of the silence rather than filling the gap and consider repeating back to them or summarising what you are hearing to affirm your understanding.
  • Show empathy and understanding and avoid lecturing, shaming or accusations.
  • Stay specific and try and stay on topic, unless the young person wants to share more.
  • Identify a trusted team of adults to ensure that young people know which adults they can turn to if they have questions or worries relating to dangerous challenges.
  • Reassure them that they won’t face judgment or punishment for seeking help. Emphasise the seriousness of the issue while assuring them that you are available to address any concerns or questions they may have.
  • Don’t panic if they are uncomfortable, evasive or refuse to talk initially. Instead, reassure and encourage them you are here and ready to listen. Never underestimate the importance, power and hope that these conversations can have.

Don’t Name It

By drawing attention to specific challenges, you will probably trigger a young person’s natural curiosity to find out more. Instead, ask them if they have seen any online or heard about them from a friend. Encourage them to share their thoughts on them.

Stay Informed

By understanding the attraction and risks, you can better support and guide the children and young people in your care.

Be Supportive and Avoid Judgement

Young people may feel awkward, embarrassed or even fearful of having this conversation. Stay supportive, plan how and when to approach the conversation and avoid panic, condemnation or any language or behaviour that could be harmful rather than helpful.

Enable Parental Controls

Together, utilise parental controls and safety settings available on the platforms they use. Talk to young people about how to block and report on platforms and how to see less harmful content. Our Online Safety Centre provides practical guides for implementing these measures.

Further Resources

Teach Hub Lesson: Understanding Online Challenges

Taking Part in Online Challenges and Trends

Safety Centre: Guidance on how to block, mute and report on popular platforms.

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Use our video for guidance and advice around constructing conversations about the online world with the children in your care.