TikTok’s latest trend Milk Crate challenge sees dangerous injuries, doctors express concern
3 min read
Over the years, there has been no dearth of social media challenges that have gone viral. People have engaged in crazy tasks and missions, be it pouring ice-cold water on themselves, or dancing on streets, among others. However, not all of these challenges were harmless. There have been some perilous ones as well, and it seems 2021 just gave birth to another one — milk crate challenge.
In what began as a quest to kill boredom or to flaunt people’s athletic side after the Tokyo Olympics, people were seen taking up the challenge and stacking plastic crates in the shape of a pyramid. Climbing up and down without any support or protective gear, they scaled the shaky obstacles for fun.
Originally started in TikTok, the video showed while some attempted it by using just a few blocks, others raised the stakes, stacking dozens of it, as well as simultaneously doing other things. The challenge has become so popular, particularly in the US, that even official accounts have been set up.
A man by the name of White Mike has set a new world record, being the 1st person to complete the Milk Crate Challenge while rolling a blunt🤯🥇 pic.twitter.com/V4RdzAWRhd
— Official Milk Crate Challenge News Source🥛 (@SirVstudios) August 21, 2021
Now, moving beyond TikTok, the challenge has been a hit on Instagram and Twitter as well. From taking up the dangerous task in heels to some even attempting while eating cereals, hundreds of videos have flooded social media.
Shorty raised the stakes pic.twitter.com/z3sVh3Wh7H
— Dee Goodz (@dee_goodz) August 23, 2021
Always get your meals in pic.twitter.com/3NmomnrCDo
— Bradley Martyn (@BradleyMartyn) August 22, 2021
#cratechallenge but the jail edition 😂 pic.twitter.com/chlz9suGiw
— No Jumper (@nojumper) August 23, 2021
Somebody getting arrested out of frustration after this.. 😩😂 #CrateChallenge pic.twitter.com/NjlxUUPxak
— Mamba Out ✌🏾✌🏾 (@kcjj_04) August 24, 2021
Shit was wild🤣 #CrateChallenge pic.twitter.com/L8meUc26DQ
— 🕷 (@stxxy_) August 23, 2021
However, not all managed to ace the challenge. After a video showed some dangerous falls, it raised some serious concern among health professionals. Doctors also advised people not to take up the risky challenge highlighting that such falls could result in some serious emergency surgeries if not some fatal injuries. They also underlined that hospital workers are already overworked with the rising Covid-19 cases and urged all to be safe and not attempt something silly to harm themselves.
“The Milk Crate Challenge is very dangerous, and we are seeing many orthopedic injuries as a result of the falls,” Dr Shawn Anthony, an orthopedic surgeon at Mount Sinai in New York told TODAY. “Injuries can include broken wrists, shoulder dislocations, ACL and meniscus tears, as well as life-threatening conditions like spinal cord injuries.”
Many also took to Twitter to share how the videos are giving them anxiety and they would not attempt it.
Videos of folks doing the milk crate challenge give me anxiety. Where is their mama at?!
— Jackie Hill Perry (@JackieHillPerry) August 23, 2021
my health insurance does not cover the “crate challenge”
— Wahlid Mohammad (@Wahlid) August 23, 2021
The crate challenge is so painful to watch 😭. It was funny at first but all these people with limited insurance risking their health for a couple hundreds. 😩
— Halle Berry (@Tweet_MANDAtory) August 23, 2021
The crate challenge gives me tremendous anxiety. It’s crazy to think how tame the @tide pod challenge seems in comparison.
Rock on, America. We’re doing great.
— Jack Ferris (@JFerris714) August 24, 2021
Others thought it was wise to just share memes instead, without risking their lives.
Rollin’ out #CrateChallenge pic.twitter.com/A96yFZKQq1
— Guy Fieri (@GuyFieri) August 23, 2021
The only #CrateChallenge I ever participated in….👀👌🏾💯 pic.twitter.com/Q0xUwdRWxa
— LeVelle Moton (@LeVelleMoton) August 23, 2021
You hate to see it #CrateChallenge pic.twitter.com/TAsXj3J94b
— 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝘆𝗻𝗲𝘀 (@lt4kicks) August 23, 2021
The only #CrateChallenge I want 😂😋 pic.twitter.com/0rWMrN8LvM
— Manyora the Shunist (@ushuni_) August 24, 2021
This the only crate challenge that I’m interested in pic.twitter.com/bxcYqi7SvV
— Drew! (@drewdapps) August 23, 2021
Make a Man out of you 2021 pic.twitter.com/fs86VE3kMt
— Rob HaZe (@robertistheMan) August 22, 2021
Time and again, virtual challenges have taken a risky turn, raising alarm among public and health experts. From 2017’s Tide pods challenge and Drake’s Kiki challenge in 2018 to 2019’s Bird Box challenge — numerous dangerous activities have taken social media by storm, and this is no exception.
