Khaberni - Social media platforms erupted with a massive wave of astonishment following the spread of a shocking global trend that started on "TikTok" and reached the Arab world, where teenagers and young people showcased suicidal practices under the name "Tea Challenge" or "Friendship Test", involving pouring boiling liquids over intertwined hands while two people hold each other to prove the strength of their emotional bonds.
This trend forced participants to directly pour boiling water or hot soup on their skin, with a condition of not withdrawing hands or showing any reaction regardless of the extent of physical harm, prompting specialists to describe it as "nonsense that exceeds the bounds of reason and logic".
The trend and its method of spread
The spread videos rely on filming the scene of pouring tea or hot water on hands, showing the reaction and trying to endure it in front of the camera.
The trend quickly moved from a local to a global scope, including users in the Arab world, and sometimes used music or accompanying slogans like "We burn but do not part", which gave the challenge a dramatic character and attracted thousands of views within a few hours, despite its clear health risks.
The catastrophe here is that some parents began adopting the trend and practicing it with their underage children, out of adherence and love, which reflects the dangerousness of the spread on those not fully capable.
Extreme and masochistic personalities
Dr. Jamal Farweez, a psychiatrist, stated in remarks to 24 that the reason for the spread of such challenges lies in imitation for the sake of gaining views and comments on social media, which later turns into financial gains.
He explained that the stranger the clip, the higher the viewership rates, but he emphasized that the actual consequences should not be underestimated, as using hot water leads to severe and painful burns and injuries.
Farweez confirmed that these practices are often carried out by individuals suffering from behavioral disorders, whether enjoying harming themselves or inflicting harm on others, asserting that a healthy relationship is not tested by harm, but by positivity, purity, and appropriate events.
Global medical mobilization against "seconds deformations"
Dr. Mangusha Agarwal sounded the alarm in a report carried by "Hindustan Times", where she confirmed that boiling water causes skin tissue destruction within seconds, resulting in first and second-degree burns, painful blisters, and persistent numbness.
She explained that the damage does not stop at the momentary pain but may extend to cause "permanent disabilities" and deformations and scars that accompany the person throughout their life.
Experts called for refraining from attempting these challenges or encouraging others to do so, affirming that the fleeting moment of fame is not worth the ongoing physical risks.
Sociology reveals what's behind the slogans
Dr. Mayada Lotfy Hammad, a sociology lecturer at Mansoura University, considered the phrase "We burn but do not part" to represent a live model of toxic relationships, which are beautified with names like sacrifice and loyalty.
She explained in her statements to 24 that the spread of such slogans on social media partly stems from some young people's inclination to portray pain and suffering as evidence of the strength of the relationship, especially amid an increasing sense of loneliness.
She pointed out that these practices could transform the relationship into physical and psychological exhaustion, where the concept of loyalty mixes with exploitation, and forsaking personal health and boundaries becomes a false indicator of individuals' commitment to love each other, emphasizing that "true friendship is not built on burning or harming but on sharing, supporting, and wishing well, not evil and pain".
First official response
Officially, the Ahl Masr Hospital for Burn Treatment issued a statement launching an awareness campaign titled "Burns are not a challenge", after monitoring the spread of challenge clips on TikTok.
They affirmed that what is happening is not just a joke or a way to express feelings, but a real danger to health, as thermal burns can leave difficult-to-treat effects and deformities.
The hospital clarified that a significant portion of the cases it receives daily results from hot water or liquids, noting that thermal burns are among the most dangerous types, even if they appear simple, as they can lead to deep damage in the skin and tissues, severe infections, or blood poisoning that may threaten life.
