A Popular TikTok Trend Leaves 9-Year-Old Boy Hospitalized with Severe Burns
Parents, beware: a deadly trend on the social media platform TikTok has already claimed its fourth victim this year, leaving a young boy from Plainfield hospitalized with severe burns. The incident involved a popular sensory toy called Needoh cube, which is designed for adults and kids alike but can prove disastrous when misused.
The 9-year-old boy, whose name has not been released, was getting ready for school on January 20 when he accidentally microwaved the cube, causing it to explode on his face and hands. His mother assumed he had warmed up her breakfast, unaware of the impending danger. The aftermath was nothing short of horrific: thick gelatinous material covering his skin, leaving him in excruciating pain.
The young boy's mother attributed the incident to a viral trend that spread like wildfire among school friends. In a harrowing account, she recalled her son telling her about a friend who had warned him about attempting this stunt, only for him to ignore the advice and decide to try it out anyway.
Fortunately, the family sought immediate medical attention, but the boy's condition is still precarious. According to experts at Loyola Medicine, this is not an isolated incident; the burn center has already recorded three similar cases this year. The severity of these accidents highlights a stark warning: children are more likely to take risks without fully grasping the consequences.
TikTok, under scrutiny over its handling of hazardous content, has repeatedly emphasized that it prohibits any videos or challenges that promote or show dangerous activities. In fact, 99.8% of such videos were removed proactively last year, and a whopping 97% were deleted within 24 hours of being reported. While the platform takes steps to address these issues, it's crucial for parents and caregivers to remain vigilant.
As part of National Burn Awareness Week, Loyola Medicine has shared Caleb's story in an effort to raise awareness about the dangers posed by reckless behavior on social media platforms like TikTok.
Parents, beware: a deadly trend on the social media platform TikTok has already claimed its fourth victim this year, leaving a young boy from Plainfield hospitalized with severe burns. The incident involved a popular sensory toy called Needoh cube, which is designed for adults and kids alike but can prove disastrous when misused.
The 9-year-old boy, whose name has not been released, was getting ready for school on January 20 when he accidentally microwaved the cube, causing it to explode on his face and hands. His mother assumed he had warmed up her breakfast, unaware of the impending danger. The aftermath was nothing short of horrific: thick gelatinous material covering his skin, leaving him in excruciating pain.
The young boy's mother attributed the incident to a viral trend that spread like wildfire among school friends. In a harrowing account, she recalled her son telling her about a friend who had warned him about attempting this stunt, only for him to ignore the advice and decide to try it out anyway.
Fortunately, the family sought immediate medical attention, but the boy's condition is still precarious. According to experts at Loyola Medicine, this is not an isolated incident; the burn center has already recorded three similar cases this year. The severity of these accidents highlights a stark warning: children are more likely to take risks without fully grasping the consequences.
TikTok, under scrutiny over its handling of hazardous content, has repeatedly emphasized that it prohibits any videos or challenges that promote or show dangerous activities. In fact, 99.8% of such videos were removed proactively last year, and a whopping 97% were deleted within 24 hours of being reported. While the platform takes steps to address these issues, it's crucial for parents and caregivers to remain vigilant.
As part of National Burn Awareness Week, Loyola Medicine has shared Caleb's story in an effort to raise awareness about the dangers posed by reckless behavior on social media platforms like TikTok.
omg can u believe this trend? a kid gets 2nd degree burns from microwaving a toy and it's not even the 1st time... tiktok needs 2 take this seriously, 99.8% of videos are removed but that's still way too many 
kids don't know better, parents gotta step in & educate them about online safety 
I don't know how many times I have to say it but this trend on TikTok is just not cool and can literally ruin your life. Someone gets hurt, a 9-year-old boy in this case, and parents are all "oh no" but what's being done about the platform? I mean, they say they remove 99.8% of these videos but if that's the only step being taken then it's not enough. These kids need to be educated on what's safe and what's not. 
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it's not just about the platform takin responsibility, we gotta educate our youngins on how 2 use tech safely. and btw, why do parents keep lettin their kids watch tiktok without supervising?! it's not rocket science, ppl! 
? Kids these days are literally getting hurt because of viral trends on TikTok... I mean, I know parents need to keep a close eye on their kids online, but come on! 
And what's even more concerning is that this isn't an isolated incident... 3 others this year?! 
It just goes to show that we need to be super vigilant as parents and caregivers online.
And even when they do take action, there are always gonna be some sneaky kids who try to outsmart them.
Like, what were they thinking?! The parents need to be more involved in their kids' online lives too, not just in the household. We can't just sit back and hope our kids don't get hurt... we gotta keep an eye on them! 
. Parents need to be super careful what their kids are watching and doing online 
. It's not worth the risk, trust me 
, but our parents always kept an eye on us 
.
. They're not just promoting bad behavior, they're also putting innocent lives at risk 
. Let's all spread awareness about burn safety and responsible social media use 
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. And parents, please keep a close eye on your kids' screens and talk to them about online safety... it's just not worth the risk 
. It's not just the platform that needs to take responsibility, it's also the people who spread these crazy ideas 
.
anyway, tiktok needs to do more than just take down vids like 2 seconds after ppl report them, we need real consequences for ppl who make these hazardous content 
parents need to be way more strict with their kids and keep an eye on what they're watching online 
especially when it comes to stuff on tiktok 
