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Life-threatening challenges”: teenagers throw furniture from high-rise buildings!
The police are concerned about several dangerous incidents at the high-rise building of the Reutlingen district clinic. Young people throw objects and thereby risk safety. The vomiting problem caused by TikTok challenges is also discussed.
Life-threatening challenges”: teenagers throw furniture from high-rise buildings!
In Reutlingen, a worrying series of incidents at the district clinics' residential building on Steinenbergstrasse is raising eyebrows. Unknown people literally threw garden chairs, stones, squared timber and even a sofa from the upper floors, and not without consequences. The flying objects landed on sidewalks and near an adjacent intersection. Fortunately, in one incident only a passing vehicle was hit by a piece of timber, but there were no injuries. The police investigation is already in full swing and there are initial indications that young people between the ages of 12 and 18 could be behind these risky actions, which may be related to a so-called “challenge”. GEA reports that ...
The Reutlingen district clinics have meanwhile paid attention to the safety of the population and are relying on a lively exchange with the investigative authorities in order to take preventive measures. Residents and passers-by are urged to be vigilant and report any suspicious sightings to the police immediately. This call is no coincidence, because it's not just the incidents at the high-rise that are worrying those responsible.
TikTok challenges: A dangerous trend
Recently, two young girls, including a 13-year-old, had to be treated in the children's clinic of the Reutlingen district clinics after they took an overdose of paracetamol. A frightening example that shows how far the pressure from social media reaches. One of the young patients said she took the overdose because of a dare that was circulating on social media. In a SWR report it is discussed that ...
The head physician at the Clinic for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Bianca Haase, is stunned by this development. “How can it be that young people end up in such a dangerous situation as a result of such challenges?” she asks herself. The two girls initially showed no suicidal intentions, and the quickly initiated treatment enabled them to get to the clinic in good time, where, among other things, a life-saving antidote was administered.
A look at the dangers of social media
But this is not an isolated case. According to a study by Medienanstalt NRW on TikTok challenges, the challenges that are being spread on this platform are extremely alarming. Almost every fourth person in Germany uses TikTok, with children and young people in particular using it. A third of challenging content is potentially harmful, and there are even challenges that are classified as potentially deadly. Interestingly, around 65% of videos do not contain any dangerous content. Nevertheless, it becomes clear how important it is for parents and professionals to remain attentive and seek dialogue with young people about the digital world.
It is the responsibility of parents and society to help children navigate the Internet safely. Pressure from social media must never jeopardize children’s safe development. This appeal to common sense is made all the more urgent by the study results. While the police in Reutlingen continue to deal with the incidents, it is to be hoped that the worrying trends do not spread further.