Condom challenge: dangerous new craze sweeps the web

Condom challenge: Alison Blackwall took part

Alison Blackwell

26 November 2015

A new craze is sweeping the internet in which young people are filming themselves dropping water-filled condoms onto each other's heads.

The so-called condom challenge sees friends drop condoms onto each other from a height and, rather than exploding, the latex material forms a bubble of water around the person's head, potentially cutting off their air supply.

Challengers leave the condom in place long enough to take a video or a picture.

The risky crazy is thought to have started in Japan, where a clip of two friends carrying out the bizarre stunt went viral earlier this month.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://t.co/GpCOTMLT04" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3123131-https://t.co/GpCOTMLT04" data-vars-event-id="c23">pic.twitter.com/GpCOTMLT04</a> — Josh (@xnysn) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/xnysn/status/666222139754856448" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3123131-https://twitter.com/xnysn/status/666222139754856448" data-vars-event-id="c23">November 16, 2015</a>

However, the original clip appears to have been made using a water balloon, which is far less risky as a balloon will burst on impact.

The difference with a latex condom is that it will stretch, and when combined with the weight of the water, it poses a risk of suffocation.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> I done it <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/condomchallenge?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3123131-https://twitter.com/hashtag/condomchallenge?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#condomchallenge</a> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DontTryThisAtHome?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3123131-https://twitter.com/hashtag/DontTryThisAtHome?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#DontTryThisAtHome</a> check my hair lolololol - K <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://t.co/xxt6thLGsM" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3123131-https://t.co/xxt6thLGsM" data-vars-event-id="c23">pic.twitter.com/xxt6thLGsM</a> — MiC LOWRY (@WeAreMicLowry) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/WeAreMicLowry/status/669313271623733248" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3123131-https://twitter.com/WeAreMicLowry/status/669313271623733248" data-vars-event-id="c23">November 25, 2015</a>

While hundreds of people are posting their clips of the challenge on Twitter, others have been quick to condemn the craze.

One tweeter said: "The #CondomChallenge is dangerous, what if you can't get it off then what?"

While Amanda Renae Snow posted: "This #condomchallenge is super dangerous. What happens when you can't get it off and you suffocate and die?"

However, those who have taken part in the challenge have said it was just "a bit silly", but said they didn't feel they had put themselves in danger.

They also said it was more difficult than expect to get it right.

Ashley Brown, a 19-year-old student from Essex, and his friend had seven attempts at the challenge.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> 7 attempts of the condom challenge and the last one results in us losing electricity <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Condom?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3123131-https://twitter.com/hashtag/Condom?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#Condom</a> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Challenge?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3123131-https://twitter.com/hashtag/Challenge?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#Challenge</a> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Fail?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3123131-https://twitter.com/hashtag/Fail?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#Fail</a> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://t.co/natmvLXWKQ" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3123131-https://t.co/natmvLXWKQ" data-vars-event-id="c23">pic.twitter.com/natmvLXWKQ</a> — Ash B (@AshBTheDJ) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/AshBTheDJ/status/669486795009228800" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3123131-https://twitter.com/AshBTheDJ/status/669486795009228800" data-vars-event-id="c23">November 25, 2015</a>

He said: "I wasn't actually the person in the bath but originally we found the challenge really funny from seeing it all over Facebook and Twitter.

"When actually doing the challenge, it was annoying. We thought we was doing it right but obviously we wasn't.

"It most definitely was not scary, it was more of a challenge that created a buzz. It wasn't a painful experience for my friend, the only painful thing Is the fact we couldn't make it work."

Alison Blackwall, a 24-year-old teaching assistant from Bromley, also took part, with the help of her brother.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> Our attempt at the condom challenge...safe to say we failed! <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://t.co/qMeeJYmsPl" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3123131-https://t.co/qMeeJYmsPl" data-vars-event-id="c23">pic.twitter.com/qMeeJYmsPl</a> — Alison Blackwell (@AliTheSeal) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/AliTheSeal/status/669245920215740416" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3123131-https://twitter.com/AliTheSeal/status/669245920215740416" data-vars-event-id="c23">November 24, 2015</a>

She said: "We decided to take part because my brother dared me and because we thought it would be funny! It didn't hurt, it just surprised me when it hit my head and bounced off!"

"Obviously it is a bit silly and I can see where people are coming from with those concerns but it is just a bit of fun and I know that if anything had gone wrong my brother would have acted quickly to help me out."

<blockquote class="twitter-video" lang="en"> I highly recommend to not do this challenge <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/condomchallenge?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3123131-https://twitter.com/hashtag/condomchallenge?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#condomchallenge</a> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://t.co/84J2P4BuGi" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3123131-https://t.co/84J2P4BuGi" data-vars-event-id="c23">pic.twitter.com/84J2P4BuGi</a> — Gus Esham (@the_OG_lowkey58) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/the_OG_lowkey58/status/669519383308451844" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3123131-https://twitter.com/the_OG_lowkey58/status/669519383308451844" data-vars-event-id="c23">November 25, 2015</a>

It is claimed the condom challenge is seeking to promote sex safe.

It is not the first wild craze to sweep the internet - and probably won't be the last.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> Todd & Monk just had to do the the <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/condomchallenge?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3123131-https://twitter.com/hashtag/condomchallenge?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#condomchallenge</a> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://t.co/4yvfp9i02m" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3123131-https://t.co/4yvfp9i02m" data-vars-event-id="c23">pic.twitter.com/4yvfp9i02m</a> — 95.5 PLJ (@955PLJ) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/955PLJ/status/669504161990500352" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3123131-https://twitter.com/955PLJ/status/669504161990500352" data-vars-event-id="c23">November 25, 2015</a>

Early last year the "neknominate" craze rocked the nation, which saw young people filmed themselves drinking dangerous amounts of alcohol, before posting the videos online and encouraging others to follow suit.

Five people are believed to have died as a result of playing the game.

Last summer the ice bucket challenge also saw friends dump freezing cold water over each other's heads, but the practice was considerably less risky, and also raised £7million for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, after people who took part were encouraged to donate to the charity.

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Condom challenge: dangerous new craze sweeps the web

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