“Dragon's Breath” – Attention, parents! Children are burning and poisoning themselves because of the dragon trend on Tiktok

The “Dragon's Breath” challenge, a viral trend that became popular on TikTok and other social media, poses significant health risks. In this challenge, children and teens consume candy soaked in liquid nitrogen. The resulting steaming effect, which looks as if the person is blowing smoke from their mouth and nose, gave the trend its name.

Dangers of the challenge

The use of liquid nitrogen in food is by no means unproblematic. Liquid nitrogen has extremely low temperatures of up to -196 °C and can cause serious health damage:

1. Burns and frostbite: Contact with liquid nitrogen can cause severe frostbite and burns to the skin. Even the slightest contact can result in painful injuries.
2. Esophageal burns: Eating candy soaked in liquid nitrogen can cause burns to the esophagus, which can lead to serious injury and long-term damage.
3. Poisoning: Eating these sweets can cause food poisoning, which can result in nausea, vomiting and other health problems.

Background and distribution

The challenge became known through viral videos on TikTok in which children and teenagers consume the steaming sweets and demonstrate the resulting effect. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had already warned of the potential dangers of consuming “Dragon's Breath” in 2018. Despite this warning, the challenge gained renewed popularity through social media.

Within a month, at least 25 children in Indonesia were injured after consuming Dragon's Breath candy. Similar cases have been reported in the United States and other parts of the world. This development represents a significant public health problem, as the injuries caused require lengthy medical treatment and can significantly affect the quality of life of those affected.

Study on the impact of viral social media challenges on children

A comprehensive study of the impact of viral social media challenges on children offers valuable insights into this topic. One such study is “Online challenges among children and adolescents: Self-inflicted harm and social media strategies” (2020).

Key findings of the study

1. Selfharming behaviour: All challenges analyzed involved potentially self-harming behavior with risks ranging from minor to fatal injuries.
2. Social recognition: Young people use these challenges as a means of social recognition and building their identity on social media.
3. Risks and violence: Risk and violence play a central role in creating an appealing self-image that is able to bind an audience.

Authors Suely Ferreira Deslandes, Tiago Coutinho, Taiza Ramos de Souza Costa Ferreira and Roberta Matassoli Duran Flach published this study in the journal Salud Colectiva, providing a detailed insight into the motivations and perceptions of minors regarding viral challenges and their potentially harmful effects.

Conclusion: The “Dragon's Breath” challenge may seem like harmless fun at first glance, but the risks associated with it are significant. Parents, educators and health authorities must do more to educate children and young people to protect them from the dangers of such trends. Social media platforms like TikTok should also take responsibility and counteract the spread of dangerous content. The health and safety of the young generation should always come first.