Government wants social media companies to axe ‘skull-breaker’ videos

BENGALURU: The government has asked social media platforms TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and ShareChat to take down videos of what is known as the ‘skull-breaker’ challenge, which has resulted in serious head injuries among students across the globe. The social media challenge, popularised first on short video app TikTok, starts with three people standing alongside each other, seemingly ready to jump into the air all at once. However, the two people on either side try to kick the legs out from under the one in the middle, making him or her fall.

Doctors have warned that the free fall can result in head injuries, fractures to the joints, and even break the unsuspecting person’s skull.