Kids as young as 6 years old are partaking in the "Pass Out Challenge" or "Choking Game" to experience the brief sense of euphoria that comes after temporarily not breathing.
It seems like there's absolutely nothing that can stop kids from engaging in dangerous activities just for 15 seconds of fame on the internet, or an encouraging pat on the back from the most popular person in their school.
Dangerous Trends
Earlier this year, the "Tide Pod Challenge" horrified anyone with an ounce of common sense. Teenagers were biting down on seals of extremely toxic Tide Pods, which are only meant for laundry purposes.
Some kids were getting this chemical liquid in their respiratory tracts, or vomiting uncontrollably, putting their health at serious risk.
The challenge was just a fad, so teenagers sought out something else to give them temporary satisfaction: juuling. Vapors disguised as USB sticks started to take over schools, causing school administrations to send out newsletters to warn parents about the latest high school trend.
While parents and schools are still working to tackle that issue, a trend that was once popular in the mid-90s is resurfacing.
The Pass Out Challenge has us questioning the mental stability of the next generation once again. Here's why it's becoming popular once again:
The Pass Out Challenge
The way the game works is extremely dangerous, but quite simple, and yet there are dozens of videos online teaching children on how to participate in the challenge.
If a child doesn't hang him or herself by a rope, a belt, or shoelaces, then a friend will try to cut off their oxygen supply, but release their grip right before it's too late. But how do they know when it's too late?
The desire for euphoria and temporary pleasure has become a recent trend in the younger demographic. Are children more depressed than they were in the past? Are we not paying close enough attention to our kids? Or is the mounting pressure from their peers to do something crazy, like endangering their developing brains, taking over their common sense?
There's no answer on why the "chocking game" has become popular once again, but we do know that it's too dangerous for us to remain idle.
Casualties
According to Time, the viral trend has costed the life of more than 80 children across the U.S. between 1995-2007. Thousands more have died from accidental hanging or strangulation, according to the CDC.
In 2006, Levi Draher went on national television recounting his experiences playing the game. He was only 15 years old when he heard about the challenge through word of mouth, and remembered the first he tried it he "felt good."
But the third time he tried to hang himself, he couldn't gain consciousness, and spent three days in a coma. He survived, but he still suffers from memory loss and tremors.
"I looked at life in a completely different way," he said.
But not everybody was as lucky as Levi, Thousands of families are mourning the loss of their loved ones, and are just praying that social media platforms will do something to combat this viral trend.