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Needoh: The new dangerous TikTok challenge turning an innocent toy into a 200°C 'bomb'
🇬🇷 Greece /Culture & Society

Needoh: The new dangerous TikTok challenge turning an innocent toy into a 200°C 'bomb'

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • A dangerous TikTok challenge involving the toy 'Needoh' is causing concern among parents and experts worldwide.
  • Children are encouraged to heat, freeze, or microwave the toys, leading to explosions and severe burns, as seen in incidents involving Violet, Bella, and Gia.
  • Experts warn that the gel inside Needoh toys is alcohol-based and highly flammable when exposed to heat, while social media platforms often hide the negative consequences of such trends.

A new and dangerous trend on TikTok, known as the 'Needoh' challenge, is raising alarms for child safety globally. These toys, marketed as safe, pose significant risks when misused, particularly when exposed to heat or cold.

I took it out and was squeezing it, and it exploded like a ball in my face.

— VioletDescribing the severe burns she sustained after microwaving and squeezing a Needoh toy.

The challenge encourages children to heat, freeze, or microwave the Needoh toys. When the toys are then squeezed, they can explode with considerable force. Violet, a young girl influenced by the trend, experienced severe burns after microwaving a Needoh toy and squeezing it. "I took it out and was squeezing it, and it exploded like a ball in my face," she recounted.

Similar incidents have occurred, with Bella reporting that the temperature exceeded 200 degrees Celsius, causing her to scream, "I'm burning." Gia, an 8-year-old, also suffered facial burns from an explosion after heating a toy in the microwave a year prior.

I was shocked by what happened, because the temperature exceeded 200 degrees Celsius, so I was just screaming 'I'm burning'.

— BellaRecounting her experience with a heated Needoh toy.

Experts explain that Needoh toys contain an alcohol-based gel, making them extremely dangerous when exposed to high temperatures. They criticize social media platforms for promoting only the "fun" aspects of these challenges while obscuring the potential harm. "We constantly see the negative outcomes of TikTok challenges. The injured individuals don't post videos on TikTok. We only see the fun, impressive-looking ones," experts stated.

We constantly see the negative outcomes of TikTok challenges. The injured individuals don't post videos on TikTok. We only see the fun, impressive-looking ones.

— ExpertsWarning about the selective portrayal of dangerous trends on social media.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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