A man attempts to cross the pyramid-shaped crates

The milk crate challenge, also known as the crate challenge, is a video challenge that became viral online in August 2021. The challenge involves stacking milk crates into a structure that resembles a podium, with both sides of the structure functioning as stairs.[1] The participant is expected to climb up to the top of the crates and climb back down without destroying the structure or falling, risking injury.[2][3] The activity has faced criticism by health professionals for its unnecessary risk to personal health.[4] Social media platform TikTok, where the trend was popularized, said it would eliminate search results for "milk crate challenge" citing its policy that "prohibits content that promotes or glorifies dangerous acts."[5]

Accidents

Due to the instability of the stacked crates, participants often fall while ascending or descending the podium, risking serious injury. Falling during the challenge[6] has led to a variety of injuries, including dislocated shoulders and rotator cuff tears, ACL tears, meniscus tears, broken wrists and even spinal cord injuries.[7][8]

Reaction

Some medical professionals have warned against attempting the challenge, saying that the relative instability of the stacked crates poses a high risk of injury.[4][9][10] On August 25, 2021, TikTok made a statement that they will remove videos[11] with the hashtag and return a message about TikTok's community standards when a user looks up the #MilkCrateChallenges, according to its guidelines.[12][13] The challenge has also led to the concern of theft within the dairy industry and is considered a crime in many states. Dairy industries lose around $80 million per year due to theft according to the IDFA in 2012.[14][15] Some articles noted that there was increased risk to participants as many hospitals were dealing with a surge of the Delta variant of COVID–19 in August 2021.[16]

Single-stack climbing

A professionally organized single stack crate climbing exercise, with the presence of protective helmets and safety harnesses

An earlier and similar challenge is a crate-climbing task offered as a team building exercise by some outdoor activity centers.[17] In the task, participants assemble and climb a tall, narrow stack of crates, alternating between climbing the tower and placing more crates to increase its height.[citation needed] When organized by professionals, the use of safety lines and helmets makes the activity safer than in the viral video trend. The world record for the highest crate stack climbed solo was set by Christof Riesenhuber in 2009, when he climbed a single column of 49 beer crates, at a height of 12.74 metres (41.8 ft).[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ "TikTok takes action on viral crate challenge". Punch Newspapers. August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  2. ^ Marianne Garvey (August 24, 2021). "Conan O'Brien's tweet prompts FDA to discourage #MilkCrateChallenge". CNN. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  3. ^ "Maybe this is not the best time to be doing the Milk Crate Challenge". www.abc.net.au. August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Yang, Maya (August 25, 2021). "Milk crate challenge has doctors warning it's 'worse than falling from a ladder'". The Guardian. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  5. ^ Valinsky, Jordan (August 27, 2021). "TikTok bans the 'milk crate challenge' because of injuries". CNN. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  6. ^ Milk crate challenge: Girl's hopes of winning $500 come crashing down, August 25, 2021, archived from the original on May 14, 2022, retrieved August 25, 2021
  7. ^ Moore, Cortney (August 25, 2021). "What is the milk crate challenge? Dangerous craze sweeps social media, FDA weighs in". Fox News. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  8. ^ "The viral Milk Crate Challenge has left people injured. Doctors are begging them to stop". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  9. ^ Gilbert, Asha C. "Viral videos are fun, but a broken neck is not. Doctor warns against #milkcratechallenge". USA TODAY. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  10. ^ Shapiro, Nina. "Viral 'Milk Crate Challenge' Is Challenging Virus-Filled Emergency Rooms". Forbes. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  11. ^ "TikTok removing 'Milk Crate Challenge' videos amid warnings from doctors, FDA". Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  12. ^ Davis, Barney (August 25, 2021). "Milk crate challenge: Three people shot dead in latest Tik-Tok trend". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  13. ^ "TikTok makes rare statement after Milk Crate Challenge backlash". New York Post. August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  14. ^ Glum, Julia. "Doing the TikTok Milk Crate Challenge Could Cost You Hundreds in Fines". Yahoo! Finance. Archived from the original on August 26, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  15. ^ "Waiting for FDA approval before I take the Milk Crate Challenge". Twitter. Conan O' Brien.
  16. ^ Corbett, Erin. "TikTok's Milk Crate Challenge Is The Latest Dumb Way To Injure Yourself". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  17. ^ Anderson, Leigh Ann; Midura, Daniel M; Glover, Donald R (August 23, 2019). Team Building Through Physical Challenges: A Complete Toolkit (2nd ed.). Human Kinetics, Inc. ISBN 978-1492566922.
  18. ^ "Crate climbing - highest". Guinness World Records. September 18, 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
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