The escalation of piling milk crates in a pyramid and climbing them like stairs has been prohibited on the TikTok platform.
Looking for the trend’s hashtag “milkcrate” or “milkcratechallenge” on the TikTok app now comes up with a “no results found” feedback. The search results page informs users that “this phrase may be associated with behaviour or content that violates our guidelines. Promoting a safe and positive experience is TikTok’s top priority.”
Though, some video contents associated with the trend are still visible on the app if users look for incorrect spellings of keywords associated with the challenge, such as “milkratechallenge” or “milkcreatechallenge”
TikTok bans content that promotes bad acts, and will remove videos and redirect searches to our Community Guidelines to discourage such content,” a spokesperson said. “We encourage everyone to exercise caution in their behaviour whether online or off.”
The ban comes after several healthcare workers took to social media to voice their concerns about the trend and the danger it poses to those participating in it. In most of the videos, TikTok users are seen tumbling to the ground as they try to climb up one side of the crate pyramid, sometimes resulting in physical injuries..
Dr. Shawn Anthony, an orthopedic surgeon at Mount Sinai in New York, told TODAY Parents that the milk crate challenge is “very dangerous” and has already resulted in orthopedic injuries. Dr. Anthony added that anyone who attempts the challenge could risk “broken wrists, shoulder dislocations, ACL and meniscus tears, as well as life-threatening conditions like spinal cord injuries.”
Viral videos are fun, but a broken neck is not. So, better stick to those dance challenges on TikTok for now.
