Signal Fall 2020 Newsletter

www.alliancecom.net 9 individual, not sponsored by a brand or a corporation. • They’re peculiar or unique in some way. The activity must be novel enough to grab the attention of someone scrolling through their social media feed. • They’re simple and specific. Whether it’s posting a picture of yourself “planking” or performing a particular dance move, the instructions must be clear and the action easy to do. When celebrities jump on a challenge bandwagon, the exposure is amplified exponentially. Not only do more people see it, by virtue of a celebrity’s audience, but participation also goes up because those same fans and followers want to emulate their heroes. Sharing Isn’t Always Caring While these rules of thumb generally hold true for successful social media challenges, what really drives people to share these challenges far and wide is the universal desire to belong. Participating in a broader movement—even if it’s just for fun—can make people feel connected. Sharing their participation is a way of declaring their membership in a larger collective and makes them feel they’re part of something bigger. But there’s also a darker side. The problem with anything that goes viral is that it’s indiscriminate. There’s no way to control who sees it, who attempts it, and who passes it on. This lack of oversight leaves children and teenagers particularly vulnerable to internet challenges that could result in real physical harm, either to themselves or to others. The infamous #TidePodChallenge in 2018 had kids biting into small laundry detergent packets (said to resemble candy) before spitting the soap from their mouths. Likewise, in the #Cinnamon- Challenge, participants had to swallow a spoonful of ground cinnamon in 60 seconds without water. Both of these challenges might have spawned an initial thrill with their audience but they carried real medical consequences for those who attempted them. Viral Challenges Create Connection The trend of accepting a dare and docu- menting it on social media has captured the imagination of people around the world. Most of these challenges represent lighthearted fun, bringing the participants together in a common purpose. Maybe it’s no surprise that they’ve “caught on” after all. What Parents Need to Know A dare can be irresistible, especially to a teenager. If you’re a parent to a young person who spends any time on social media, you should take steps to protect them from potentially dangerous fads. Here are three things you can do to help keep your child safe from the latest online craze: • Talk about it. Since you can’t super- vise your teen at every moment, you have to rely on their judgement. Make sure they can recognize and avoid potentially dangerous behavior. • Acknowledge the reality of peer pressure. Remind your teen that they are in control and don’t have to do anything they don’t want to, even if friends tease them for not playing along. • Stay up to date. Knowledge is power; keep an eye on the latest online trends and how they might affect your teen—before he or she gets onboard with it. FAST FACT: Between July and August 2014, more than 17 million people worldwide participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge and raised over $115 million for ALS research. Source: https://www. usatoday.com/story/ news/2017/07/03/ice- bucket-challenge-5-things- you-should-know/448006001/