ERASER CHALLENGE Definition The Eraser Challenge dare game

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ERASER CHALLENGE

ERASER CHALLENGE

Definition � The Eraser Challenge- dare game where participants rub a rubber eraser against

Definition � The Eraser Challenge- dare game where participants rub a rubber eraser against their skin while saying the alphabet and reciting a word that begins with each letter. When they get to Z and recite their word, they stop and compare their injuries to their friends injuries. � This game has been played by kids for years, but in April 2014 the challenge got attention from the news media and school officials after a Connecticut middle school principal warned parents about the dangers of this game. � This self mutilation game can cause pain, severe irritation, bleeding, scarring and even infection.

Origins � #eraserchallenge was first tweeted on January 29, 2012, by @Stay. Trueee_: �

Origins � #eraserchallenge was first tweeted on January 29, 2012, by @Stay. Trueee_: � � Rose S. uploaded the first Eraser Challenge video to You. Tube on March 25, 2012. In her video entitled “Eraser Challenge” she furiously rubbing a pencil eraser on her arm while she listed off words for each letter of the alphabet. As of March 2014, the video had over 30, 000 views. � https: //youtu. be/TCw. KUf. BXt. CI

Origins (cont. ) � Although the Eraser Challenge has recently been brought mainstream, the

Origins (cont. ) � Although the Eraser Challenge has recently been brought mainstream, the game is far from new and has existed in different forms for several years. � Earlier variations of the game involved participants scratching their forearm with a fingernail or rubbing it with a hand to inflict friction burns. Another form of the game is the Indian burn (which was where a friend would twist their hands around wrist of the participant until the participant gave into the pain, and the participant would end up with a friction burn). � The Eraser Challenge has gained popularity due to the internet and outlets such as You. Tube. The game has become much more readily available to kids through videos that they are exposed to on the internet.

Increased Popularity �Eraser Challenge �On October 18, 2012, videos increased on You. Tube in

Increased Popularity �Eraser Challenge �On October 18, 2012, videos increased on You. Tube in 2012 and 2013. � However, some of these videos focused on the injuries inflicted by the game, instead of the game itself. Bryson S. uploaded a video titled “What happened to me when I did the eraser challenge” where he advises against playing the game and shows his eraser burn scars. By March 2014, the video had only gained a little over 3, 000 views. �https: //www. youtube. co m/watch? v=Nsd. BMj. Xsg

Increased Popularity (cont. ) � On April 25, 2013, Ryan M. uploaded his video

Increased Popularity (cont. ) � On April 25, 2013, Ryan M. uploaded his video “Eraser challenge (painful)” where it shows the large red burn he got from playing the game. As of March 2014, his video had just over 3, 000 views. � There is a noticeable difference between the number of viewings for the challenge videos and the number of viewings of • The videos that highlight the injuries inflicted by playing the game have dramatically less people viewing them.

Gaining Media Attention � In 2014 a Connecticut school, Bethel Middle School, brought the

Gaining Media Attention � In 2014 a Connecticut school, Bethel Middle School, brought the Eraser Challenge to the attention of its parents and the media. � In late March 2014, the school sent a letter warning parents about the eraser game, in which they called it a “troubling” activity that kids across the country have been participating in. � The school principal said he first learned of the game after several students went to the school’s nurse because they had marks on their arms after playing the

Gaining Media Attention (cont. ) � Doris Murphy, a teacher told WTNH-TV that she

Gaining Media Attention (cont. ) � Doris Murphy, a teacher told WTNH-TV that she learned of the game from some of her students who were worried about their friends’ safety. � Murphy said, “A couple of my girls had come to me because kids were ending up with pretty severe wounds on their arms. ” � She thought that peer pressure was behind the increased spread of the game. � “They’re 13, 14 years old and what’s cool takes over sometimes, ” Murphy said.

Gaining Media Attention (cont. ) � And there is alarming � There had been

Gaining Media Attention (cont. ) � And there is alarming � There had been about a evidence that kids are using the same erasers to play the game. � “What I found out was kids were sharing erasers, so as they broke the skin they were passing the eraser off to somebody else, body fluids being shared, and that’s a concern of mine, ” the principle told Fox. CT. � He continued, "It's happening all over…What concerns me is that kids see something and they try it because of peer pressure. Our job is to keep dozen Bethel students who had played the game at the time the letter was sent out to the parents. � None of the kids involved were reprimanded by the school. The school just didn’t want them to get hurt. � The Eraser Challenge is not isolated to one school; you can search You. Tube and find videos of teens from across the country mutilating themselves with erasers. � There are over 22, 400

Parent reaction � Parents were baffled by their children erasing their skin. � John

Parent reaction � Parents were baffled by their children erasing their skin. � John L. said, “I don’t understand why kids are mutilating themselves or doing things to hurt themselves. ” � Lara F. stated, “I just thought it was strange. Very strange things these children are doing. ” � A parent of another participant, Staci T. was shocked when she found out her son’s scars were from an eraser. She said, “He came home with these deep cuts on the back of his hand, and it took a while to get him to tell me what he had done. ” � She also stated, “I was very surprised… The thought never crossed my mind that you could

Side Effects �Depending on how long the game is played and how hard the

Side Effects �Depending on how long the game is played and how hard the participant is “erasing” their skin, they can cause major damage to their skin. �This game can lead to scarring and infection, among other things. �Dr. David Arkin said, “The challenge to see who could do it the longest…You’re going to often wind up with some disfigurement and some scarring. The scarring is going to [be] permanent from these things. ”

Serious Side Effects � But it’s not just small burns, or abscesses that participants

Serious Side Effects � But it’s not just small burns, or abscesses that participants are inflicting upon themselves as a result of this “game. ” Dr. David Roer, with Pediatric Associates of Dayton, Ohio said this kind of game has caused serious infections, and worst yet, “In some cases, when you look back, some of them were so bad they ended up with amputations of the extremity. ” � Dr. Roer also stated that “The Eraser Challenge” has increased the probability of getting a staff infection – or worse, MRSA. (MRSA is an infection caused by a strain of staph bacteria this is resistant to the antibiotics used to treat staph infections. ) � Because these kids are sharing their erasers, they are taking a risk of transmitting staph infections and MRSA. Even more serious, they could transmit HIV or other blood bourn infections.

References �http: //knowyourmeme. com/memes/eraser- challenge �You. Tube – Rose Samples �You. Tube – Bryson

References �http: //knowyourmeme. com/memes/eraser- challenge �You. Tube – Rose Samples �You. Tube – Bryson Sakacsi �You. Tube – Ryan Martinez, this video has been taken down. �http: //www. google. com/trends/explore? hl=en. US#q=eraser+challenge �Fox. News. com, Published March 30, 2014. Educators trying to stop dangerous new game known as 'Eraser Challenge’ http: //www. foxnews. com/health/2014/03/30/educa tors-trying-to-rub-out-dangerous-new-gameknown-as-eraser-challenge/

References (cont. ) � Rebecca Kline. Huffington Post, published 3/31/2014. School Warns Parents About

References (cont. ) � Rebecca Kline. Huffington Post, published 3/31/2014. School Warns Parents About 'Eraser Challenge' Game That Has Students Harming Themselves. http: //www. huffingtonpost. com/2014/03/31/eraserchallenge-connecticut-school_n_5064561. html � Stephanie Simoni & WTNH. com Staff. News 8, WTNH. com, published: March 28, 2014. Parents alerted about ‘eraser challenge. ’ http: //wtnh. com/2014/03/28/parents-alerted-eraserchallenge/ � T. Castillo. Fox. CT, posted 3/29/2014 Students Warned Of Danger Of ‘Eraser Challenge. ’ http: //foxct. com/2014/03/29/students-warned-of-danger-oferaser-challenge/ � WRIC Newsroom. ABC 8, News, posted April 2, 2014. Doctors Warn Against Dangerous “Eraser Challenge. ” http: //wric. com/2014/04/02/doctors-warn-against-

References (cont. ) � Dana Dovey. Medical Daily, Posted April 2, 2014. Self -Harm

References (cont. ) � Dana Dovey. Medical Daily, Posted April 2, 2014. Self -Harm 'Eraser Challenge' In Connecticut Middle School Poised To Become Yet Another Dangerous Internet Trend. http: //www. medicaldaily. com/self-harm -eraser-challenge-connecticut-middle-school-poisedbecome-yet-another-dangerous-internet � Bailey Woolum. KFOR-TV and NBC News, posted 5/2/2014. Parents, here’s why you need to know about the “Eraser Challenge. ” http: //kfor. com/2014/05/02/parents-heres-why-youneed-to-know-about-the-eraser-challenge/ � MRSA Infection Definition. http: //www. mayoclinic. org/diseasesconditions/mrsa/basics/definition/con-20024479