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A worrying social media challenge involving the microwaving of squishy toys has resulted in a young girl suffering severe facial burns. Charlotte, a mother from Hartcliffe in Bristol, revealed that her 10-year-old daughter, Bella, endured potentially permanent scars after imitating this viral trend. The dangerous practice is being widely shared on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, prompting calls for greater awareness among schools and parents.
Bella was at a friend’s house when she decided to try the challenge. Charlotte described her daughter’s condition upon returning home: “When she came in, I could see straight away her face was bright red, it looked like she’d been whacked in the face and I could see the scald mark and there was skin missing and blisters.” The toy in question had a silicone outer layer which hid the extreme heat inside, and when Bella’s friend squeezed it, the hot contents burst, causing the injuries. Charlotte emphasized the distress the incident caused, saying, “She was in absolute tears.”
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) echoed concerns about such risky behaviors. Policy officer Rhiain Reynolds stated, “Misuse of household appliances can have devastating consequences,” and stressed the importance of communication between parents and children about the dangers of copying hazardous online trends. She added, “RoSPA urges parents and carers to talk to children about the dangers of copying online trends and to reinforce that microwaves are not toys.” In response, TikTok confirmed its commitment to removing content that promotes dangerous activities, reaffirming its community guidelines against such posts.
Charlotte’s warnings about the trend have resonated with other parents. After sharing her story on Facebook, a mother named Gemma Wells from Bristol responded, revealing that her own child had sustained similar serious scalds when copying the microwaving challenge. Referring to her experience, Gemma described the trauma as “one of the scariest things ever.” Expressing her hopes for prevention, Charlotte believes that a government ban on children’s access to social media might offer protection against harmful material, saying, “I think it’s a good idea. There’s a lot of apps that come across as child-friendly, but actually they can be dangerous for children. I don’t want this to happen to anyone else.
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