Newsflash! Another crazy and dangerous TikTok challenge has arrived–here’s what you need to know about the new #OrbeezChallenge.
First, let’s be honest and say that nothing usually good comes out of the bizarre challenges on TikTok. When kids aren’t being encouraged to swallow Tide Pods, they’re challenged to climb piles of milk crates that always result in tears. Knowing about the Orbeez challenge could save you and your kids a lot of trouble.
Long a fun sensory toy, Orbeez (aka water beads) are normally engaging for young children. Just put the dried balls in some water and watch as they magically expand and become handfuls of squishy delightness.
The Orbeez Challenge, however, encourages people to load the water beads into a gel ball or airsoft gun and shoot at random people. In some cases, people are freezing the beads for even more injury. Like most kids, they see this TikTok challenge as funny, but in reality they could face legal repercussions, not to mention injuring other people.
HEADS UP: The Orbeez Challenge can get you in trouble. Multiple agencies have had reports of people hit by gel beads fired from toy blaster guns.
— Volusia Sheriff (@VolusiaSheriff) March 16, 2022
Recently, deputies arrested a 19-year-old who shot an Amazon driver in @CityofDeltona. He was hit in his glasses & neck while driving. pic.twitter.com/RI6GQvElVz
Police agencies across the United States are not letting these attacks go. A 17-year-old in California was arrested after he shot the gel balls at two passersby, hitting them in the neck and eye. In Arizona, four teens were arrested for aggravated assault when they shot at pedestrians from a car, hitting one woman in the face. And in Florida, an 18-year-old is currently behind bars for aggravated assault because he shot a woman in the face while driving.
Offenders are using guns like the SplatRBall, which is an electric soft water bead gel blaster gun coming in full auto and semi automatic options. The guns are only designed to be used with SplatRBall ammunition (i.e. not Orbeez) and product descriptions tell users to never aim or shoot at animals or humans.
photo: Orbeez
Interestingly, the Orbeez website actually sells an “Orbeez Challenge” set, and references the challenge in its product description. While we’re pretty sure this particular verbiage is not directly related to the current challenge of shooting at random people, it is a good reminder that parents should always be aware of what their kids are watching on social media.
Because while most people love a handful of Orbeez here and there, absolutely no ones wants to be shot with them from a powerful airsoft gun.
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