YouTube Removes Tide Pod Challenge Videos for Safety Reasons
YouTube is taking action against videos of that new dumb trending challenge called the Tide Pod Challenge. The challenge consists of teens putting laundry packs into their mouths and attempting to eat them like candy, while videoing themselves gagging and choking.
KHOU reports the video streaming service owned by Google will remove these videos after numerous kids and teens attempted to eat the brightly colored detergent packs known as pods. It's their way of deterring them from taking part in such a dangerous trend.
YouTube released a statement:
Videos showing people participating in the Tide Pod challenge are removed from YouTube when flagged and the channel is given a strike for violating our Community Guidelines, which prohibit harmful or dangerous content.
If you swallow even a small amount of the pods it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Also, it could affect the lungs and make breathing difficult. Procter & Gamble, the parent company of Tide issued this statement:
YouTube’s Community Guidelines prohibit content that’s intended to encourage dangerous activities that have an inherent risk of physical harm. We work to quickly remove flagged videos that violate our policies.
YouTube is known for removing videos that are found offensive by users and have also gone so far as to remove channels permanently per YouTube’s strike system.
Meanwhile Texas, Whataburger is offering a friendly solution to the "Tide Pod Challenge" by simply saying put the pods down and pick up a Whataburger! That's a challenge I am more than willing to participate in - although I don't think anyone wants to watch me eat one on film.
Last year, the American Association of Poison Control reported over 10,500 cases of laundry detergent packs consumed by children ages 5 and younger. If you or someone you know has ingested one call the national poison hotline at (800) 222-1222 or text POISON to 797979.