If the internet was a person, it would be the guy whose catchphrase was "hold my beer" - someone with a short memory, too much bravery, a very short life expectancy and who is unable to resist a challenge. Yes, it seems like as long as you call something a "challenge" earnestly enough, you can convince hapless bloggers to mud wrestle their own grandmothers, with no thought of the consequences. You might think I'm exaggerating, but dozens of people have been hospitalised or seriously injured as a result of their idiotic attempts to replicate some flash-in-the-pan trending fad. Recently, YouTube has even been forced to clamp down on "Tide Pod challenge" videos, after warnings from health officials that the dangerous stunt could lead to a health crisis. It's perhaps the first time that YouTube has moved to stop a viral challenge from spreading, but it's hardly the first time that people have hurt themselves. In case you've forgotten them, here's our comprehensive rundown of some of the stupidest challenges ever attempted.

1. The Tide Pod Challenge

Number one on the list is also the most recent: the Tide Pod challenge. Yes, it seems as though people really are eating plastic packets of laundry detergent to validate their online street cred, which is obviously a really, really bad idea, since the detergent contains a significant amount of bleach and other harmful chemicals. This craze has been deemed responsible for a high number of poisonings in the United States in the first quarter of 2018. Since January 1, a number of people rang the American Association of Poison Control Centres (AAPCC) to report they had poisoned themselves with Tide pods. The manufacturer has warned that pods: "should not be played with, whatever the circumstance, even if meant as a joke. Laundry pacs are made to clean clothes. Like all household cleaning products, they must be used properly and stored safely."

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2. The Cinnamon Challenge

The Cinnamon Challenge is one of the best-known examples, and also seems so innocuous. I mean, come on: cinnamon doesn't sound as if it would be hazardous, right? But then, after being offered a spoonful of the same spice that makes pastries so sweet, most folks turn into a red-eyed coughing mess, struggling not to vomit over themselves. The Cinnamon Challenge is also one of the oldest online challenges: the first example of the fad dates back to 2001, when it was played by Erik Goodladon on a site hosted by Michael Buffington. It saw a massive resurgence in late 2011 when Anna Diaz attempted it on her YouTube channel. Man, you'd think people would know better by now, right?

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3. The Gallon Challenge

The Gallon Challenge is pretty simple: the person attempting it is forced to drink a whole gallon of milk in one sitting. That's around four litres worth, in case your wondering, and yes, it's pretty inadvisable. The practice of chugging milk was first attempted by Johnny Knoxville and the Jackass gang back in 1999 and it has become more and more popular among high school and college students ever since. It's also incredibly difficult (but not outright impossible) to pull off, since the stomach can generally hold only half a gallon, and exceeding this capacity often triggers the gag reflex. How's that for lactose intolerance?

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4. The Fire Challenge

Just when you thought the human race couldn't get any more suicidally stupid, a trend like the Fire Challenge comes along and ends up chlorinating the gene pool some more. The Fire Challenge asks participants to douse themselves in lighter fluid and immolate themselves ... that's it. There's no trick to it, it's literally just a way to make people set themselves on fire. I wish I were joking. There have since been numerous videos of people doing this challenge and sustaining serious burns. Kids: don't pour nail polish remover on your chest and then set it alight. Just don't. [[youtubewidget||https://www.youtube.com/watchv=X1MBEAFLVLc]]

5. The Corn Drill Challenge

You know what's a difficult food to eat? Corn on the cob. It's slippery, hard to bite into and those little kernels always end up getting stuck in between your teeth. You know what makes it even harder? Attaching it to the end of a power drill and spinning it around. Yeah: that's never going to end well. The first iteration of this challenge appears to have been uploaded by Vinnie Mac in 2o12, and rather than go "that looks like a good way to send yourself to A&E" many others were inspired to attempt the same moronic feat.

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6. The Eraser Challenge

You wouldn't think that a pencil eraser could hurt, right? Well, this challenge will make you think again. The Eraser Challenge is a dare where the participant is forced to rub an eraser against their skin whilst reciting the English alphabet, and as it turns out, it really hurts after a while. The first Eraser Challenge video was uploaded to YouTube on March 25, 2012, by YouTuber, Rose Samples, and since then hundreds of other people have ended up pointlessly hurting themselves with everyday stationary. [[youtubewidget||https://www.youtube.com/watchv=q4QKNHmFfhU]]

7. The Cold Water Challenge

Now, I personally had no issue with the Ice Bucket Challenge: it was designed to raise awareness of ALS and you only had to get wet for a few moments. The Cold Water Challenge on the other hand, has no purpose whatsoever and bears a serious risk of hypothermia. The Cold Water Challenge asks people to jump naked (or near-naked) into a large pool of cold water during winter time, post the recorded video footage online and nominate other people. Seriously, if one of my friends genuinely nominated me to take a dip in a pond that was the same temperature as a penguins ass then I guarantee that we wouldn't be friends for much longer.

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8. The Condom Challenge

Some challenges are dumb, others are dangerous, and some are disgusting. But some very special examples are all three. The Condom Challenge certainly is. How could snorting a condom up through one nostril and pulling it out the other not be? The gross trick first gained popularity back in 2013 and since has managed to disgust millions of viewers. It's frankly a miracle that no-one has managed to get the contraceptives stuck inside their sinuses. [[youtubewidget||https://www.youtube.com/watchv=EPY3OaMqrSs]] But hey, not all internet challenges are bad news. In fact, most of them are just harmless fun. My advice is to avoid anything that involves fire, power drills, or freezing cold water. But if you're a die-hard Star Wars fan then you might want to do yourself a favour and check out two new memes spawned by the release of The Last Jedi: the Kylo Ren challenge and the Princess Leia challenge.

After the Tide Pod challenge, you would think that the internet would be hard-pressed to find another trial that's half as ridiculous, dangerous and sheer idiotic. Unfortunately, you'd be wrong. It turns out people online are full to the brim of simply terrible ideas and that the lure of viral fame is enough to overcome any fear or common sense they may or may not have.

This theory has been proved with the return of the 'Snorting Condom Challenge', the viral fad that has seen thousands of people online inhaling condoms and posting the video online afterwards. Yep, that's right. While some teenagers across America are busy creating movements like #NeverAgain, organising marches and interviewing prominent politicians on gun policy, others are doing this.

The Snorting Condom Challenge normally goes something like this: The participant takes the contraceptive out of its packet, they snort it up one nostril to the back of the throat, and they attempt to make the latex condom come out of their mouth. I know what you're thinking: Hardly what they meant in Sex Ed when they said "stay safe kids".

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While it has gained steam on the internet recently, it is hardly the first time a trend like this has become popular. The condom challenge was first created back in 2003 and made returns in 2006 and 2012, before going viral in 2013 when Youtuber Savannah Strong uploaded footage of her doing the trick. Since then, thousands of people have taken part and shared their videos on social media.

Despite its popularity, experts have named the challenge as dangerous and have advised people not to encourage the trend, which carries a risk of choking. They have pointed out that snorting a condom can become a hazard if it blocks the airway, as well as citing fears of infection and allergic reactions likely to happen in the nasal cavities.

Over the years, there have been several reports of participants suffering from medical complications after snorting condoms, with one woman coming down with pneumonia and suffering a partial lung collapse after it got stuck in her lungs, and another woman getting appendicitis when a condom fragment got stuck in her appendix.

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Bruce Y. Lee, an associated professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, has commented on the fad, asking people taking part if the risks were really worth the video views. He wrote: “Even if you manage to successfully pull the condom out through your mouth, inhaling a condom up your nose would be very uncomfortable and potentially quite painful. Would it really be worth all that just to get more likes and views?”

Of course, the Snorting Condom Challenge is just one of the dozens of bizarre challenges that have gone around the internet over the years. As well as the Tide Pod challenge, which saw people eat plastic packets of laundry detergent, there was the Cinnamon Challenge, in which participants ate a spoonful of ground cinnamon in under 60 seconds without drinking anything, the Fire Challenge, which saw participants douse themselves in lighter fluid and immolate themselves, and the Gallon Challenge, where people drank a whole gallon of milk in one sitting.

So, tell me what you think, honestly: Can the internet get any stupider? You'd think it would be impossible at this point, but crazier things have happened.

Two Kentucky parents have claimed that Child Protective Services paid them a visit after they allowed their six-year-old son to run a marathon.

Ben and Kami Crawford came under fire after they shared the news that their son Rainier had completed the 26.2 mile Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati, Ohio, on May 1. A seriously impressive accomplishment for a child of that age.

The six-year-old crossed the finish line in eight-and-a-half hours, a time which his proud parents were quick to post on their social media platforms. However, not everyone was impressed, and some social media users attacked the Crawfords for physically pushing their child too far.

Some were so outraged that Rainier had been put through such a strenuous run that they complained to CPS, prompting officials to pay the Crawfords a visit and question their son.

Now, Ben and Kami - who share six kids and often enjoy running as a family - have taken to Instagram to hit back at their critics, and explain to their 13,800 followers that Rainier's participation in the marathon was entirely voluntary.

Alongside a snap apparently showing their son being interviewed by CPS workers in the garden, they shared a statement describing the experience as "scary".

"Yesterday Child Protective Services (CPS) arrived at our home unannounced and interviewed our children, parents & grandmother," they wrote.

"Someone reported that we dragged Rainier after mile 13 and across the finish line, pulling him against his will. All 8 family members and eye witnesses (including police officers), and our hours of footage reveal a different story - That Rainier is a young human who was very determined to finish and was never dragged ONCE on the entire 26.2 mile course," the parents continued.

They went on to say: "Calling a government agency to have children taken away from someone because you don’t like them or something doesn’t 'feel right' or because you can not conceive of a six-year-old that enjoys running, is morally reprehensible."

In response to their posts over, many of the family's biggest fans have taken to the comments section to defend the family.

"I just don't see how you could force him to run the marathon," one person wrote. "If there's one thing I know about kids it's making them do something they don't want to do is sometimes impossible. I'm so sorry your family is going through this."

A second supporter added: "Anyone who took the time to watch your videos and get to know your family from afar would know that the amazing thing your young son has accomplished is tremendously far from abuse. It’s INCREDIBLE! Sending all of you well wishes and kind thoughts. Don’t let the haters kill your spark!"

And in a FAQ to the press, the parents insisted that Rainier "was very excited" about running the marathon after watching his siblings also compete in races.

"This is the 11th marathon we have done over 9 years and every one has been with children," the parents added. "We have never gotten attention from the media and were content to share our own story with our small social media following."

The parents also clarified that Rainer did cry during the marathon after "he had a fall". However, they added that every member of their family has cried during marathons.

"These experiences were very limited compared to what has been reported," they wrote.

Despite their insistence that Rainier participated in the marathon voluntarily, the Crawfords continued to receive criticism and abuse online.

Eventually, they released a lengthy statement on Saturday which was published in full by MailOnline, and reads: "We have never forced any of our children to run a marathon and we cannot even imagine that as feasible practically or emotionally."

Featured Image Credit: Rob Wilkinson / lifestyle / Alamy

A teenage boy is thought to be in "extreme danger" after he went missing in Indiana and was reportedly last seen wearing a shirt with "disturbing" writing on it.

According to an alert by Indiana State Police, the last time 14-year-old Scottie Dean Morris was seen was at around 8:30 PM on Thursday (March 16) when he was spotted in Eaton, a small town of around 1,600 people northeast of Indianapolis.

The alert states that the youngster is "5 foot 4 inch tall, 150 pounds," has "brown hair with blue eyes," and that he was "last seen wearing black shoes, red and black shorts and a white T-shirt with writing on the front."

"He is believed to be in extreme danger and may require medical assistance," the Indiana Clearinghouse for Information on Missing Children and Missing Endangered Adults stated in the alert.

Credit: Eaton Indiana Police Department

Indiana State Police has shared an image featuring a distressed-looking Scottie in a shirt with the words "I’m a liar" handwritten onto it with a black marker pen. Other words on the shirt include "cheat" and it also appears to read: "I hurt my brother."

Drawn onto the shirt on the top right-hand corner is a crying face.

Police started searching for the boy on Thursday night and released a missing person alert the next morning.

On Friday, officials wrote on Facebook that "we currently have over 100 volunteers out searching for Scotty Morris, which is so amazing and we are very grateful!"

They went on to say that they had sent out two boats in a rover in the area and were also using two infrared drones, as well as two bloodhound units, which were sent in from Grant County.

Authorities said on Sunday that they would not be setting up a search party "because we will have helicopters from the Indiana State Police using their infrared cameras. We ask that if you continue to search on your own today, please refrain from wooded areas, tree lines, rivers, etc as this will only hinder the investigation while they’re in the air searching," via WLWT.

Credit: Eaton Indiana Police Department

Police Chief Jay Turner confirmed to 21Alive  that Scottie's parents, Felicia and Brian Morris, made him wear the shirt in order to punish him - but it is unclear why such punishment was thought to be necessary.

He said: "The shirt, it was quite unorthodox, kind of disturbing, and we're looking into that."

Featured image credit: Jaromír Chalabala / Alamy

I can't be the only person who gets worried when he hears about a new so-called "challenge" on TikTok. That's not because I'm a killjoy, but because so many of the viral challenges we've seen in the past have been, well, downright dangerous.

Obviously, not every challenge that's appeared on the platform poses a risk to life and limb. But by now we've seen plenty of foolhardy stunts and risky pranks performed for the benefit of the cameras.

Some of these challenges have left their participants seriously injured, or have even proven fatal, due to the extreme threat they pose.

So for your own personal safety, take a look at this list of the most dangerous TikTok challenges on the internet, and please, don't try any of them yourself.

1. The Skullbreaker Challenge

The Skullbreaker Challenge, also known as the 'Jump Trip Challenge', first emerged on the platform in 2019. It involves two people asking a third to be in a video with them, telling the participant to jump. One all three leap into the air, the two on the outside kick out the legs from under the third to delibertaelymake them fall over.

A number of people were seriously hurt as a result of their taking part. For example, Brazilian 16-year-old Emanuela Medeiros died after taking part and landing on her head.

2. The Concussion Challenge

The Concussion Challenge, also known as the 'Throw It In The Air Challenge', sees participants cluster into a tight huddle and throw various objects over their heads. Players are unable to leave the circle until an object hits a member of the group.

Although most TikTok users used harmless objects such as basketballs and eggs, others employed more dangerous missiles, such as plastic chairs, basketball hoops, and tricycles.

3. The Penny Challenge

This stunt involved participants plugging a mobile phone charger halfway into an electrical socket and then attempting to strike spark by touching the exposed prongs of the plug with a coin.

According to The New York Post, a student at Plymouth North High started a fire on the school premises after performing the irresponsible stunt and scorched the classroom. Local firefighters were summoned to the campus as a result.

4. The Cha Cha Slide Challenge

Named after the DJ Casper dance track, this challenge involves drivers filming themselves swerving to the right and left, and even crossing lanes while on the road.

Although there were no reported deaths as a result of the challenge, the social media site added a caption on videos using the hashtag which read: "The action in this video could result in serious injury."

5. The Cereal Challenge

The Cereal Challenge involves one person tilting their head back and opening their mouth.

A partner then fills their mouth with milk and breakfast cereal, which the first person gargles, while the second uses a spoon to eat it out of their mouth, creating a potentially lethal choking hazard.

Why anyone would attempt this is beyond me.

6. The Bright Eye Challenge

The so-called Bright Eye Challenge saw TikTok users attempt to change the color of their eyes, by mixing bleach, hand sanitizer, jelly, and shaving cream in a bag, and rubbing it on their eyeball.

Aside from the risk posed by the harmful chemicals, pressing the bag against the eye itself could lead to contamination from dirt, or could scratch the retina.

Speaking to The Mirror about the challenge, Royal College of Optometrists Clinical Advisor Dr. Susan Blakeney stated: "You can’t change the color of eyes by pressing a bag against it. It can cause corneal scarring and affect your sight.

"The cornea is the most sensitive part of the body - it’s the clear part that enables us to see clearly and anything that affects that can have a significant effect on your eyes and be extremely painful."

7. The Blackout Challenge

The Blackout Challenge is a viral stunt that sees TikTok users asphyxiating themselves or choking other people into near-unconsciousness in order to induce an artificial euphoria through oxygen starvation.

However, the restriction of the respiratory system can have tragic consequences, as the recent case of 12-year-old Colorado schoolboy Joshua Haileyesus shows.

The New York Post reports that Joshua was found passed out on the bathroom floor after attempting the stunt with a shoelace on March 22, and has since been declared brain dead.

8. The Benadryl Challenge

This challenge saw TikTok users ingesting a large amount of the cough and flu medication Benadryl to induce a hallucinogenic high, which could lead to a fatal overdose.

According to Newsweek, some users were taking as many as 12 pills at once, which could induce a range of effects, such as dizziness, vomiting, seizures, cardiac arrest, and even provoke a coma.

As a result, the United States Food and Drug Administration launched an investigation into the trend and urged the platform to remove videos of the stunt.

Credit: Alam

9. The Coronavirus Challenge

In the early stages of the COVID outbreak in the western world, a number of videos began circulating on TikTok daring users to lick objects in public places.

It goes without saying that doing so could easily lead to the transmission spread of the virus.

In one instance, a 21-year-old influencer who filmed himself licking a toilet bowl later revealed he'd been hospitalized with COVID-19.

So the next time you hear about a new TikTok Challenge, please don't take part if it sounds unsafe.

You could be avoiding something seriously deadly.

Featured Image Credit: Pexels