So, following on from the cinnamon challenge and the #NekNominate challenge, there’s a new, literally hot challenge sweeping the US. You might not quite believe us when we tell you, but seriously, young people across the country are setting themselves on fire.
Not to make a political point, as Tibetans protesting against the oppressive Chinese rule were doing when they self-immolated in public. But just for banter, or whatever word they use in America to excuse entering into dangerous dickheadery in a futile attempt to show off.
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Anyway, it’s gained huge traction across social media – mainly Facebook, but also with some flaming Vines looping about the place. We’ve not got any official stats on just how prevalent it is, and, thankfully, when we dig about for it using a hashtag we won’t share here, the number of videos of people telling others to grow up and not do the fire challenge outweigh the number of people actually pouring nail polish remover on their chests and setting fire to themselves.
However, we’re pretty confident that the whole trend has just crumbled to ash as news that a mother has been arrested after helping her 16-year-old son set himself on fire indicates that this stupid trend has reached its peak.
Janie Talley, 41, has been arrested because she was present and aware of her son’s actions when he poured fingernail polish remover on his body and set it alight. So present and aware, in fact, that she joined in, facilitating the recording, police from Charlotte-Mecklenburg in North Carolina say.
Her son suffered minor burns to his chest and neck area and Talley has been charged with contributing to juvenile delinquency, reports The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s website ajc.com.
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Facebook are getting their moderators to remove the fire challenge videos so as to stop any copycats, but we’re guessing this whole trend is going to sizzle into the ether now that someone’s mum’s has got into trouble for doing it. After all, every element of social media get a bit boring after your parents and their mates join in on the fun.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.