The reckless social media trends show off people’s creativity, humor, and sometimes stupid antics all at once. Striving to get noticed in an already crowded online space has given birth to ridiculous viral trends, with unique lifestyle choices and even dangerous stunts. These types of trends are classified as “influencersgonewild” and prove the extent to which people are willing to go just to seek views, engagement, and likes.
People have seen everything on the internet, from gravity-defying food experiments to unexplainable extreme challenges. But what is the driving force behind these trends? And what makes them spread so quickly? In this blog, let’s cover some polarizing trends that have gone viral. And their impact on social media culture and the psychology behind them.
What Makes Social Media Trends Go Viral?
Before discussing the wackiest internet trends, let’s explore why they explode in popularity. Social influence and curiosity play a big role.
- The Power of Virality
Engagement captures the attention of social media platforms and their algorithms. With people loving, commenting, and sharing outrageous trends, social media culture. This is sure to push them to an even wider audience.
- The Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
The need to be a part of the conversation so as not to feel left out makes people willing to do almost anything. Whether it’s a crazy stunt or trying a lesser-known meal combination, plenty of people join in just to not be excluded.
- Chasing After Internet Fame
Gone are the days when fame was difficult to attain. Nowadays, it is as simple as a few shares, likes, or good publicity. Users will do the unthinkable for just 15 minutes of fame.
- The Shock Factor
As streaming services grow, the need to stand out increases. Risky or bizarre trends emerge for shock value, ensuring they go viral.
The Most Bizarre Social Media Trends Ever
Given the shocking and outrageous trends on the internet, here are some that have the crown for the most bizarre:
- The Extreme Food Experiment Craze
With the growing social media presence, people are coming up with bizarre food challenges that include mixing ingredients. These trends include bizarre food combinations or extreme eating challenges. Watching these challenges is enjoyable and shocking. They get millions of views, but participants often regret their choices.
- Gravity Defying Challenges
Trends that involve doing the impossible exist, and what is the point if they are not attempted? Attempting to balance objects in ridiculous positions or stacking people on each other. These are some of the viral challenges. Although they look entertaining, they tend to lead to serious injuries.
- Beauty and Skincare Hacks That Went Wrong
You would be surprised to learn just how many beauty hacks are posted on social media. However, not all of these “hacks” are safe, and some can be very dangerous. There have been attempts at using glue as facial masks to create their own chemical peels, which have led to unimaginably bad outcomes. The chase of achieving beauty sometimes leads to pain.
- Stunt Pranks for Social Media Attention
Without the use of harnesses, people have scaled skyscrapers and jumped out of moving vehicles. And this is all in the name of social media. These death-defying stunts are common on social media. Although these stunts serve to go viral, they pose a great risk in regard to safety and personal responsibility.
- The Trend of Pretend and False Plentiful Lifestyle
An odd trend shows the supposed “luxury” lifestyle some individuals live where, in reality, these people are just editing their photos or staging them in front of expensive cars and hotels. Some people go as far as renting these luxury vehicles or booking expensive hotels. This is just to pose for pictures that will later be posted on social media.
- The Most Popular Trends of Sleeping
Some content creators have gone viral because they simply live-stream themselves while sleeping. As ridiculous as it may sound, thousands of people tune in and participate in the chat while the streamers are asleep. Some creators set up donations in a strange way. If someone donates to them, the donation will wake them up from their sleep. This creates an interactive experience.
- The Shocking Eating and Drinking Trends
The internet holds shocking food trends, like munching on raw ingredients or eccentric blends of beverages. While some trends seem harmless, others can pose serious health risks.
- The Invisible Challenge
This funny viral trend tricked people into believing they had turned invisible using clever editing. That and with group psychology. Although it was without harm, this challenge reflects how gullible people can be.
- The Extreme Weather Trend
There are creators who pose in extreme weather conditions like hurricanes and blizzards. These trends demonstrate the lengths people will go to for views.
- The Fake Prank Epidemic
Social media is rife with prank videos that have been staged to elicit reactions. These have led to debates about the authenticity of social media. Questioning if it is turning into a hub for scripted entertainment. Instead of knowing the genuine interactions.
The Dangers That Come with Trends
Jumping on every viral trend isn’t always a good idea. People don’t realize the risks that come with blindly following trends.
- Physical Injuries
Competing in extreme challenges or the “next big thing” can pose a risk to oneself due to hazardous activities that cause severe injury. Even the most mundane and simple challenges can result in severe injury.
- Psychological Impact
Participants experience a mental health burden, especially when they feel obligated to do something outrageous. That is just to get noticed by their intended audience.
- Social Pressure and Competition
There is always user competition on social media, and with the competition comes the need to outdo everyone else.
How to Identify a Trend Worth Participating In?
Ask yourself these questions before trying a challenge:
- Is it safe? – If a trend poses a risk to your health or well-being, it’s better to skip it.
- Is it ethical? – If any part of the transaction is steeped in lies, give thought to core values before stepping into the challenge.
- Does it add value? – Not all trends are meaningful. Seek those that are entertaining, imaginative, or instructive.
- Are others getting hurt? – Pranking people or embarrassing them for the sake of enjoyment is not healthy. And most likely doomed from the start.
Trends That Go Viral
New trends will arise along with the growth of social media. Some of them could be fun, but others may be harmful to one’s health mentally or physically. People strive to achieve a higher audience or better engagement, which will indulge in making negative content. This will result in the rebounding growth of their preferred audience. Content that is constructive in nature, like “influencersgonewild,” is, and hopefully will continue to, rise. And with time amid sharpened algorithms and policies for social media platforms.
Conclusion
Influencersgonewild exhibits the level of boundaries people cross to garner attention from the audience on the internet. Extreme beauty and concocting them over the internet has become a part of social media.
Viral content may provide some glimpse into entertainment but add to a pool of controversy. As viewers, the content that we consume needs to be evaluated with a rational mindset that puts safety over entertainment, therefore bound into positive, robust behavior.
