The newest viral video trend to stir up controversy has been dubbed the “Zoom Challenge.”
While at first it may sound like a race to the finish, it’s actually an activity that is raising red flags for many parents due to its quick, whiplash-style movement that can result in kids banging their heads against hard surfaces.
Set to rapper Lil Yachty’s song “Mickey,” many of the videos show small children — and even pets — alone in the frame while the lyrics, “Trappin’ out the back streets, runnin’ through the packs like a track meet – ZOOM!” can be heard.
At the word “zoom,” the children are then yanked off screen by their legs — and in some instances the movement happens so quickly, the little ones’ heads are striking the ground.
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The videos have received criticism and backlash, with one user writing, “Giving these kids whiplash smh” and another chiming in, “This is abuse.”
“Umm I’m scared ? what if they hit they head oouch … yeah Nah on this challenge,” another said, while a fourth wrote, “WTF is wrong w/ people?!?!? Those poor kids were definitely hurt ??”
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The new “challenge” is the latest in a series of stunts that have resulted in a viral trend.
In January, health experts warned against the potentially deadly social-media craze called “The Tide Pod Challenge,” in which individuals filmed themselves biting into the soap-filled capsules.
In a statement to TIME, a Tide spokesperson said the company was “deeply concerned” about the challenge and working with social-media networks to remove content that promotes eating the capsules.
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