Why teens engage in deadly social media challenges like the ‘choking game’

The ‘skull breaker challenge,’ the ‘Tide Pod challenge,’ and car surfing are but a few of the deadly games popularized through social media.

The “choking game” has potentially deadly consequences, as players are challenged to temporarily strangle themselves by restricting oxygen to the brain. It sounds terrifying, but rough estimates suggest that about 10% of U.S. teenagers may have played this type of game at least once.

​ The ‘skull breaker challenge,’ the ‘Tide Pod challenge,’ and car surfing are but a few of the deadly games popularized through social media.

The “choking game” has potentially deadly consequences, as players are challenged to temporarily strangle themselves by restricting oxygen to the brain. It sounds terrifying, but rough estimates suggest that about 10% of U.S. teenagers may have played this type of game at least once.