Dangerous Thrills: Unpacking the Psychological Roots Behind Deadly Online Challenges
The hidden motivations driving harmful internet trends
Article by Ingo Jacobs | More Info | Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | E-Mail | Print | Copy Link
Headstrong Hurrah: A Tragic End to a Trendy TikTok Tussle
The "Run-it-straight" TikTok challenge leaves a 19-year-old lifeless after a collision that seemed harmless at first glance. Young men engaging in such dares without protective gear is a sign of their competitive spirit, according to media psychologist Benjamin P. Lange.
The "Run-it-straight" challenge is a prime example of dangerous social media-fueled dares that claim lives. The "Blackout Challenge" has led to over a dozen casualties, mostly children aged 8 to 14, with a 13-year-old girl from the Kassel district being one of the victims. The "Cinnamon Challenge," "Hot Chip Challenge," and even "Car Surfing" have contributed to fatalities and hospitalizations.
Status, Appeal, and Evolutionary Benefits
Media often focuses on young children being the victims of these challenges, but research and statistics point to a specific group that falls prey to these daring feats: "Young men are the prime audience," says media psychologist Benjamin P. Lange of IU International University in an interview with ntv.de. "The competitive nature, particularly among young men, is intense."
Crosses along country roads, with birth and death dates often differing by 18, 19, or 20 years, demonstrate this tendency in Lange's view. He terms it "competitive aggression" triggered by the presence of a rival: "I want to win. The challenge's appeal lies in the same essence: it's about running at each other, and the one who remains standing wins." The objective is ultimately about status, appeal, and evolutionary benefits.
Hush-hush Hype: Teenagers' Increasing Consumption of Nicotine Pouches
While only one percent of TikTok videos evaluated by child protection organization KlickSafe show potentially lethal challenges, US statistics reveal that 67 percent of teens surveyed have seen at least one hazardous online challenge within the past year. A study conducted by TikTok itself in 2021 found that at least 0.3 percent of 10,000 teens surveyed have attempted extremely dangerous challenges. Given the estimated daily user base of over a billion people, this number appears minuscule.
Politics, Parents, and Pundits: The Call for Social Media Restrictions for Under-16s
The blame for these heartrending incidents is commonly directed at social media. In Germany, petitions are being circulated to prohibit social media for those under 16, while Australia has enacted such regulations. Parents, educators, and experts are cautioning about the risks, but the fascination with these challenges remains persistently strong.
It's Not a Media Phenomenon, It's a Boys' Rite of Passage
Lange asserts that this behavior is neither novel nor media-driven: "There are cultures without our media offerings where young men still engage in bungee jumping, tie a root around their ankles, and jump off somewhere. One in ten ends up in a wheelchair. They still do it." Nowadays, there is social media, which spreads these dares virally and almost contagiously.
Fighting Fire with Fire: A Ban on Social Media Would Not Eliminate the Issue
The platforms' responses vary: TikTok, for instance, blocks dangerous search terms and removes corresponding videos. However, it is debated whether it is feasible to halt the spread entirely. Lange finds this argument skeptical: "They thrive on traffic, clicks, viewer numbers, likes, and subscribers. Such traffic draws the audience. If someone from TikTok or Instagram were to honestly confess, 'We don't want to filter that out because it generates traffic,' I would say, 'Thank you for your honesty.'"
The Solution: A Steer in the Right Direction
Competition has always been a driving force among young men, and social media merely provides inspiration for these activities. Another motivator for participating in online challenges is boredom, according to Lange: "These nonsensical stunts are what young men resort to when they're bored and seeking stimulation." A ban on social media is deemed unsuccessful by the psychologist: "Then it would only become more alluring. Some boys would pay even more attention: 'It's not on TikTok anymore, but I've found it somewhere else.'" Lange suggests guiding this natural inclination towards competition into regulated, ideally sporting activities: "This can encompass combat sports, as long as they operate within a framework and someone ensures it doesn't cross the line."
Related Topics:
- Social Media
- Internet Usage
- Psychology
- Media
Enrichment Data:
The psychological motivations behind dangerous online challenges among young men are rooted in complex and interwoven social, biological, and psychological factors. Here's an overview:
Psychological Motivations
- Status and Social Hierarchy: Young men may engage in these challenges to gain respect and recognition from their peers, thereby enhancing their social standing within their peer groups.
- Attractiveness and Sexual Selection: Risk-taking behaviors can serve as markers of health, strength, and genetic fitness, increasing young men's perceived attractiveness and chances of romantic or sexual success.
- Group Identity and Belonging: The desire for belonging and feeling part of a community or subgroup plays a significant role.
- Dopamine and Reward Mechanisms: Engaging in risky behaviors can trigger the brain's reward system, releasing dopamine, thereby reinforcing the behavior and leading to addiction-like patterns.
Evolutionary Advantages
From an evolutionary perspective, risk-taking behaviors can be perceived as demonstrations of strength, resilience, and adaptability, which were historically advantageous for survival and reproduction. However, in modern contexts, these behaviors often have harmful consequences rather than benefits.
Conclusion
Understanding the psychological motivations behind dangerous online challenges can help in developing strategies to mitigate the risks associated with these behaviors and promote healthier alternatives for seeking status, attractiveness, and evolutionary advantages.
- The discussion on the dangerous online challenges among young men should extend to include conversations about community policy, employment policy, and general-news, as these challenges often reflect a larger societal issue that is connected to competitive aggression and the pursuit of status.
- In light of the increasing consumption of nicotine pouches by teenagers, social-media platforms such as TikTok should consider implementing stricter policies for content related to dangerous online challenges, as these platforms may unintentionally contribute to the normalization and spread of such behavior. Crime-and-justice discussions might also be relevant in this context, as new legislations or regulations could be necessary to protect minors from harm.
