Explainer: Why do hoax social media challenges go viral and how to avoid falling prey to them?

Earlier this month, news about a dangerous "boat jumping" TikTok challenge circulated, with a claim from an Alabama rescue team captain that it had resulted in the deaths of four people. However, it was later revealed that the entire story was fake. Dr. Jeremy Sng, a lecturer at SSS@NTU's Interdisciplinary Collaborative Core curriculum, stated that individuals who distrust new media platforms like TikTok are more likely to believe that these platforms promote trends and challenges. He highlighted the historical pattern of people fearing and spreading fearmongering narratives about new forms of media throughout the ages

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