In a baffling new trend to hit the popular social media platform TikTok, individuals are consuming 20 Mule Team Borax, leading healthcare professionals to express their concern. The trend, dubbed the “Borax Challenge,” has quickly caught on among TikTok users, with videos showing participants ingesting the chemical compound amassing millions of views.
TikTok Trend: The ‘Borax Challenge’
The Borax Challenge involves participants consuming varrying quantities of 20 Mule Team Borax, a laundry booster and multi-purpose household cleaner. The videos often portray users measuring the borax, mixing it in with beverages or food, and then consuming the concoction. The trend appears to be driven by a need for extreme thrill-seeking behavior, and the desire to become “viral.”
Healthcare Professionals Speak Out
Medical professionals and experts have called the trend “patently dangerous.” 20 Mule Team Borax is composed of boron, sodium, and oxygen, and is not intended for consumption. Ingesting borax can lead to poisoning and cause a variety of uncomfortable and potentially dangerous symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and it can even cause serious harm like kidney failure, seizures or even death in severe cases.
TikTok’s Response
TikTok has yet to release a formal statement regarding the trend. In previous instances where dangerous trends took off on the platform, such as the “Tide Pod Challenge” several years ago, the social media giant acted swiftly to remove related content and warn users of associated risks. The public eagerly anticipates a similar response to the borax ingestion trend.
Final Thoughts
In a world dominated by the quest for likes, shares, and viral status, it’s crucial for the public, especially young social media users, to understand that online popularity should never come at the cost of personal health and safety. This latest development on TikTok underscores the degree to which online trends can become hazardous and is a critical reminder to use these platforms responsibly, refraining from participating in activities that may cause harm, despite their popularity.
Tags: Borax Challenge, Public Health.
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