Just a few weeks into 2018, YouTube has had to contend with dead bodies, advertiser panic, a community in revolt, and now, people eating poison on camera. The Tide Pod Challenge, which is exactly what it sounds like, is making its way across the internet as half-ironic users pretend or try to consume the toxic detergent.
The problem has become pervasive enough now that large platforms like YouTube are stepping in to pull videos of people attempting to eat Tide Pods, although videos commenting or reporting on the trend are still allowed.
“YouTube’s Community Guidelines prohibit content that’s intended to encourage dangerous activities that have an inherent risk of physical harm. We work to quickly remove flagged videos that violate our policies,” the site said in a statement to Fast Company. It also probably matters that Tide owner Procter & Gamble is a prominent advertiser on the video site.
Offending accounts will receive a strike if they’re found to violated the Tide Pod ruling. Get enough strikes and your account could be shut down for good. I guess for now, YouTubers should stick to the cinnamon challenge.
