Parents are recording films of themselves breaking eggs on the heads of their young children on the social media platform TikTok, which is a worrying trend. With hashtags like #eggprank and #eggcrackchallenge, the videos get buzz and provoke discussions about kid safety and ethics.
In the trending TikTok videos, parents are breaking open chicken eggs using their toddler's and young children's heads. After that, the raw egg's contents are added to bowls or frying pans. The videos have received a lot of views on TikTok, and the hashtag #eggprank has amassed more than 670.7 million views, as reported by Forbes.
Critics See #EggPrank as Child Abuse
While some internet users find the films hilarious and see them as harmless entertainment, increasing criticism of the TikTok egg crack prank is raising issues. According to them, the use of children as props for viral content creates ethical issues and may even be harmful to the youngsters involved. Some even have dubbed it a type of borderline child abuse.
pic.twitter.com/TLsPtta3Ko Controversial Egg Crack Challenge on your kid's head..
— dude (@wizzka_z) August 18, 2023
What you think, is this considered child abuse?
Sarah Adams, a strong opponent of the TikTok egg prank, questioned the intentions behind such content. NDTV quoted her, asking, "Are we that starved for material as parents and that bored? Is the want to publish on the internet so strong since participating in our society requires so much time and energy? She also expressed worry about the effects of engaging in such behavior to get social media recognition.
Concern about the possible physical and psychological repercussions on the kids in these egg prank videos has been highlighted in many comments. Some spectators observed that kids' responses to the prank varied from bewilderment to sadness and anguish, with some uncomfortable with it.
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Experts: Egg Prank Trend Not Safe for Kids
The issue with the egg prank videos has also received input from medical professionals. They caution about unforeseen effects even if they do not think the parents in the trending TikTok videos have bad intentions. Potential short-term risks mentioned by medical specialists include bruising on a child's head or the transmission of germs from the uncooked egg.
Dr. Meghan Martin, a pediatric emergency physician at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, blasted the egg prank trend, saying that it is "not something that benefits kids in any way, and I honestly don't find it entertaining," according to an NBC News report.
Moreover, salmonella infection from raw egg yolk on a child's face has raised concerns from pediatricians emphasizing the protection of children's health and well-being.
Although prior viral videos showed adults playing practical jokes on other adults utilizing the egg trend, it is still unknown where the prank originated. Notably, some films received millions of views, raising concerns about the impact and possible motivation for parents to attempt similar practical jokes on their kids.
Pediatric occupational therapist Amanda Mathers did a test on herself to determine the effect of the viral TikTok egg prank. Her studies highlighted the possible dangers of such jokes by revealing the force necessary to fracture an egg on a fully-grown skull.
The position of TikTok on this egg prank issue has yet to be made public. A platform representative, however, refused to provide any further insight.
