The Boiling Water Trend on TikTok: A Friendship Test or a Health Threat?
The Egyptian Ministry of Health has issued an urgent warning after the so-called "boiling water trendto prove the strength offriendship" has dominated the TikTok platform in recent weeks, warning of the dangers of pouring boiling water on hands.
The ministry clarified in an official statement that this practice poses a severe health risk, as it can cause thermal burns of varying severity, reaching in some cases second and third-degree burns, with permanent damage to the skin and tissues, deformities, and lasting effects that may require medical intervention and a long rehabilitation period.
Some users engage in this challenge under the banner of testing trust and loyalty among friends, filming the scene and posting it to gain interaction and views, without realizing the serious consequences that may affect the challenger or their friend.
In a comment, Dr. Mohamed Mohsen Ramadan, head of the Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Unit at the Arab Center for Research and Studies, stated:
"The danger of these challenges lies in downplaying the extent of real harm, especially when physical pain is presented as a means to prove friendship or bravery."
Dr. Ramadan added that the boiling water trend is not an isolated case, as the world has witnessed a series of dangerous challenges over the past years, leading to severe injuries and burns, and even fatalities in some cases, due to the blind imitation of trending content without awareness of the consequences.
The Egyptian Ministry of Health emphasizes that caution is necessary and warns young people against succumbing to such dangerous challenges, asserting that digital enjoyment does not justify permanent physical risks.
