A content analysis of the Orbeez^® Gel Blaster injury challenge on TikTok.

ABSTRACT:

Background

TikTok is one of the fastest-growing social media platforms. With 50 million active daily users in the United States, videos on TikTok have the opportunity to reach an exceptionally large audience. It is of concern that some of these videos may be harmful, especially if they encourage dangerous or risky behavior that can increase injury risk. This is common for social media challenges, where people are encouraged to participate in and record a task and then post it on social media. The "Orbeez Challenge" was a challenge that went viral in 2022 and encouraged viewers to shoot water beads with Gel Blaster guns at others. The purpose of this study was to describe content for the "Orbeez Challenge" on TikTok, informed by pathways of the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM).

SUBMITTER: Schneider HP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11834493 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature