The warning service for dangerous social media challenges developed in Finland identifies and warns of emerging challenges locally. Six life-threatening social media challenges are currently listed on the pages of the project honoring the memory of Niilo, who died at the age of 17.
The artificial intelligence algorithm developed by the Mannerheim Children’s Protection Association scans social media and warns of dangerous social media challenges. Mannerheim Children’s Welfare Association
According to the Mannerheim Children’s Protection Association (MLL) survey, the vast majority of young people have come across dangerous challenges on social media. However, it can be difficult for children to recognize them as dangerous or even deadly.
Head of school cooperation and digital youth work at MLL Paula Aalto reminds in the announcement that young people are susceptible to social challenges that spread quickly. Young people may feel pressured to participate in tricks and challenges, as they may think they are missing out.
– Although it is important for parents to be on the map of the children’s media world, it is impossible to know all the time what kind of content the child spends his time with, says Aalto.
According to MLL, the fact that the parent spends time on the same social media platform as the child is not enough, because the algorithms offer their users different content.
Mannerheim’s Children’s Protection Association has published a free warning service that monitors and maps dangerous social media challenges with the help of artificial intelligence.
Social challenges spread quickly and can become a well-known phenomenon among children and young people. Not all challenges directly ask you to do anything or contain the word challenge. People just start participating in the phenomenon and everyone posts their own version of some trick or performance on social media. It can be difficult for a child to recognize the phenomenon as a challenge.
this is how it works
The algorithm developed by MLL scans social media data in real time and identifies locally spreading malicious challenges on Tiktok, Snapchat and Instagram.
The service warns parents about dangerous social media challenges with messages and notifications before they spread uncontrollably.
On the website of the service there are currently 12 social challenges listed, six of which are classified as life-threatening.
- #bluewhalechallenge (series of 50 challenges, suicide as the last challenge)
- #chokinggame
- #outletchallenge (inserting metal objects into sockets)
- #skullbreakerchallenge (knocking down another by kicking the legs from under it)
- #tidepodchallenge (eating fabric softener or detergent capsules)
- #passoutchallenge (strangling until unconscious)
In memory of Niilo
Mannerheim’s Children’s Protection Association hopes that with the service, no child or young person will experience the same thing as the person who attempted the daring social media challenge For Niilo.
17-year-old Niilo lost his life three years ago after climbing onto the roof of a train at the Seinäjoki railway yard. We told Niilo’s story in our article published in 2021.
– I would have liked such a service to have been available earlier to support parents, Niilo’s mother, Jonna Penttiläsays in MLL’s press release.
– I hope that in the future no parent will find themselves in the same situation, Jonna, who lost her only child, continues.