In the wake of various dangerous challenges trending on the short-video platform TikTok (overseas version of Douyin), authorities and law enforcement officials across the United States have been alarmed. One such challenge that has raised concerns is the ingestion of “water beads” also known as “Orbeez”.
Recently, schools in the Los Angeles area have issued warnings to parents about a risky internet trend – the “ingesting Orbeez” challenge circulating on campuses. “Orbeez” are small water-absorbing beads that can expand several times their original size when in contact with water, also known as water-absorbing gel beads. There have been several cases in the U.S. where children have been hospitalized or died after ingesting these beads.
According to reports by Fox News, several students at Robert Fulton College Preparatory School, a high school under the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), sought medical attention after ingesting water beads and experiencing discomfort.
Authorities have emphasized that the challenge of ingesting water beads poses a deadly threat to children. Content on social media platforms like TikTok is encouraging students to blindly participate in such challenges.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website mentions that dry “water beads” can be as small as a pinhead and nearly undetectable once dropped on the ground. However, when exposed to water, their size can expand up to 100 times their original size.
Therefore, if swallowed, “water beads” can continue to expand inside the body, causing severe discomfort, vomiting, dehydration, intestinal blockage, choking, life-threatening visceral injuries, and in some cases, the need for surgical removal.
In addition, the CPSC has issued product safety warnings indicating that some “water beads” products contain toxic acrylamide. Data shows that between 2018 and 2022, emergency departments nationwide have treated nearly 7,000 cases related to injuries from ingesting “water beads.” In 2023, a 10-month-old baby girl died due to this.
Due to the inherent safety risks and potential legal liability, some retailers have stopped selling such products in recent years.
The CPSC strongly urges keeping children away from these products. If there is suspicion that a child has swallowed “water beads,” or they are lodged in the ear or nostrils, medical help should be sought immediately.
Aside from the challenge of ingesting water beads, TikTok has seen various absurd viral challenges in the past, including the “skull breaker challenge,” door-handle licking, school vandalism, “choking game,” brazen car theft, and more. These challenges not only jeopardize lives but also may constitute legal violations.
Currently, families from the U.S. and the U.K. are bringing multiple lawsuits against tech giants, alleging that they have intentionally designed addictive platforms that cause serious harm or even death to minors.
More and more countries and schools are recognizing the addictiveness of smartphones among children and the dangers posed by them to education and mental health. As a result, prohibiting the use of phones by students during school hours is becoming a trend.
For example, the second largest school district in the U.S., the Los Angeles Unified School District, has banned the use of smartphones, smartwatches, and headphones during class hours since 2025. In April of this year, the district once again made a decision to restrict students’ on-screen time, including prohibiting elementary and middle school students from using electronic devices during breaks, lunch, and recess, as well as from accessing streaming platforms like YouTube on school devices.