According to reports by the New York Post and the Daily Mail, the “Waterboarding Challenge” is rapidly spreading on TikTok, where water is poured while covering the face with a towel.
Waterboarding is a form of water torture that is prohibited under international human rights law and can cause serious aftereffects such as shortness of breath and lung or brain damage. The U.S. also admitted that it used waterboarding in the course of fighting the “war on terror” after the September 11 attacks.
According to the media, influencers are taking on this dangerous challenge only to gain popularity. The New York Post warned, “Influencers have been committing dangerous torture recently,” adding, “This epidemic can actually kill people.”
One influencer sat on the bathroom floor, covered his face with a towel, spilled water, and exhaled. “Don’t copy me at home,” he said, “I almost died.”
Among netizens, there were responses of concern, such as “I don’t know why they are water-torturing themselves,” “I can’t believe the torture method is used for pleasure,” and “Some people actually suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and they shouldn’t joke as if it’s nothing.”
The challenge videos were deleted by TikTok, but some still remain.
JENNIFER KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
