Dangerous social media challenge every parent needs to know about

Ever hear the cliche about parents scolding their kids with the common sense of “If your friend jumped off a bridge, would you jump too!?”

Today’s answer would be: “Yes, if it were trending on TikTok!”

It’s the movie “Idiocracy” coming true, folks. And it’s scary.

Earnings are now going out about another dangerous, stupid social media challenge that parents should know about.

Squishy toys, sometimes thought of as sensory toys, are commonly filled with a gel inside. They’ve become increasingly popular and there’s a trend on social media platforms encouraging kids to put them in microwaves.

SEE ALSO: NJ is eating sushi off conveyor belts like farm animals 

white microwave oven on white wooden kitchen cabinet

The result

A 9-year-old boy severely burned his face when the heated toy exploded. In NYC, two sisters, 4 and 8, took the challenge, and when taking the squishy toy out of the microwave, it erupted, and the scalding hot gel burned both girls.

The 4-year-old received burns to her legs, arms and face. Both girls were rushed to a burn unit with second- and third-degree burns.

A person holding a cell phone in front of a laptop

The warning

"Bad idea, very dangerous," Nassau County Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro told nbcnewyork.com. "You're going to get hurt. Don’t do it."

You just would think this should go without saying, wouldn’t you? Add this latest challenge warning to the long, stupid list of other social media challenges. Scroll below to see some of the worst.

Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Jeff Deminski only.

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