// Social Media News - NekNomination Craze Takes Over The Internet - Social Songbird

Search

Latest News

latest

Social Media News - NekNomination Craze Takes Over The Internet

The game isn't over yet!

Most of the population by now will have heard of the phrase ‘NekNominate’ let alone the social media community. It is a game where one person plunges various liquids (or other ingredients) down their throats, and after doing so, ask people from their peer group to do the same, all whilst being videoed by a repulsed camera operator.


It started harmlessly enough, after just beer was consumed in the early stages of the game, but as us human beings do, people tried to push this craze to new levels with shocking consequences. In typical fashion this has prompted some to attack the whole of the Internet, and phrases like the ‘dangers of social media’ have become a regular sight once again.

The game began to evolve, and the objective was to outdo the nominator, and this has led to some amusing and sad footage across the Internet. Whilst this footage was again harmless – and some of it amusing – again the boundaries were pushed, with the game escalating like Chinese whispers at a One Direction concert. As it stands today, the game is being used to display shock value and this had led to any point or fun being completely lost.

One man was nominated and filmed himself drinking two pints of gin. He died shortly after and there was outcry by a huge proportion of the social media community. Just to make matters even more severe, three more people have died since, and with the craze showing no signs of slowing down, that number is sure to raise unfortunately.


What started as a harmless bit of fun in the social network community, has led to some people calling for government intervention. Some police forces are threatening to prosecute anyone who nominates someone who subsequently dies. There are others who are slating the alcohol industry and the ‘binge drinking culture’ that we as a nation apparently have.

It is unfortunate that people have turned blame upon both the alcohol industry – which is already one of the most regulated in the world – and the social media industry. The blame lies at the doorstep of people who are willing to take such absurd risks in order to gain a laugh or two. Most NekNominations now are awful, with examples of animal cruelty a regular occurrence. It is showing that there is a problem with society as a whole, and some people are just not educated in the dangers of drinking to such levels.

As with every craze on the Internet, the NekNomination phase will pass, but it has already left a mark that will never be wiped away. Families have lost loved ones due to this pointless game, and the most concerning thing about the whole ordeal is that when logging into Facebook, there are still new videos appearing everyday of people who are still trying to push the boundaries.

It would be disappointing to see the government get involved in any activity that is sweeping the nation online, because at the end of the day, people should be free to do as they please inside the boundaries of the law. The displays of animal cruelty, however, should be dealt with, but any other harm to the individual is down to negligence of ones own health.

It will be captivating to see what the next craze will be, but let's hope that it brings actual laughter and joy as opposed to the despondency and loss that NekNominations have incurred.

Alex Smith

Alex is an English Literature and Sociology undergraduate whose love for written word has led him to write about some obscure topics in his time. Currently an intern at Social Media Frontiers, be sure to follow him @AlexSatSMF 

Contact us on Twitter, on Facebook, or leave your comments below. To find out about social media training or management why not take a look at our website for more info http://socialmediacambridge.co.uk/
Social Media News - NekNomination Craze Takes Over The Internet Reviewed by Unknown on Tuesday, March 04, 2014 Rating: 5
All Rights Reserved by Social Songbird © 2012 - 2024

Contact Form

Name

Email *

Message *

Powered by Blogger.