You can call yourself Superman. You can act like Superman. But that doesn’t mean you can fly like Superman and be impervious to injury. People have been posting videos on TikTok of them trying the “Superman Challenge” or “Superman Dance Challenge” and, in some cases, facing the gravity of what could happen, so to speak.
Some of these videos show people flying for a moment and then successfully landing in the arms of others or on their feet. Other videos don’t end so super—with a range of different crashes resulting, which may at first glance seem amusing to watch. But now there are reports from different countries of folks getting seriously injured as a result. The Liberal-Democratic Party in North Macedonia has even demanded a ban of TikTok after at the “Superman Challenge” led to at least 17 students g0ing to the hospitals in the capital Skopje and other towns with broken bones, contusions and bruises, as reported by ABC News. In fact, it’s gotten to a point where searching TikTok for “Superman Challenge” returns the following message: “Your safety matters Some online challenges can be dangerous, disturbing, or even fabricated. Learn how to recognize harmful challenges so you can protect your health and well-being.”
How The ‘Superman Challenge’ Is Supposed to Work
Here’s how the “Superman challenge” is supposed to go. People line up in two rows facing each other, extend their hands towards each other and hold hands to form a cradle of arms between them. Next, a person not in these rows, playing the Superman or Supergirl, jumps and dives into this cradle. The two rows of people aim to catch this superhero with their linked hands and arms and then push their arms upwards to launch the would-be superhero into the air. For a moment, this Super is airborne. But, of course, since this Super is not really Superman or Supergirl and can’t really fly, gravity brings the person back down. That’s when the cradle of arms is supposed to catch the Super.
Alternatively, after the Super dives into the cradle of arms, the cradle tosses the Super backwards so that the Super is supposed to land back on his or her feet. It becomes the Superman Dance Challenge when dancing is involved before or after the jump and toss sequence.
How The ‘Superman Challenge’ Could Go Wrong Super Wrong
Unfortunately, all of this could end up not being a pretty fly for a Super guy—or Super gal. All of the above may look pretty easy and straightforward on a video. But in reality, there are many ways this could turn out to be a heroic failure, especially if those involved do not have the proper amount of skill, training and experience. For example, the Super could miss the cradle either in the initial leap or on the way down from the toss. If the Super is tossed away from the cradle, the Super could fail to land on his or her feet. The cradle could also fall with the arms separating when they are supposed to catch the Super.
Any of these possibilities could leave all parts of the Super’s body vulnerable to injury. Cuts, bruises, torn muscles, ligaments, or tendons or broken bones could result. Even worse things could happen the Super were to land on some vital structures like his or her head or neck. A bad neck injury could lead to paralysis. And it shouldn’t take a Brainiac to realize that a bad head injury could be life-threatening.
At the same time, this challenge can be quite challenging for those forming the cradle. They may not be adequately armed to deal with the force of catching a 100, 125, 150, 175 or even 200 pound flying thing. This could put the hands and arms as well as the various joints at risk. Moreover, if the bodies are not properly positioned, the force could put way too much pressure on the spine, knees or hips, leading to all sorts of possible injuries.
Then there are Superman Challenge fake-outs seen in a number of videos. This is when the Super jumps into the cradle of arms, expecting to be caught, when voilà the two rows of people pull away their arms like a matador pulling away a cape from on onrushing bull. This bull (bleep) move results in the Super falling flat onto the ground.
‘Superman Challenge’ Videos Could Be Super Misleading
It’s important to remember what is done on TV, the movies or any type of video may appear to be deceptively easy. Trying something you see on TikTok can be like trying something you see in a gymnastics competition when you have never done, you know, gymnastics. Or it could even be like trying something you see in a Marvel or DC superhero TV show or movie when you have no idea what kind of special effects, wires, props, video-editing or other tricks may have been used in the seemingly home-grown video on social media. In other words, it can be very difficult to separate fact from fiction.
This certainly isn’t the first social media challenge that could end up being super risky. For example, I previously covered for Forbes the boat jumping trend and fairy flying challenge on TikTok that were both fairly dangerous to do. Chances are the Superman Challenge won’t be the last of its kind.
So, don’t try any stunts you see on social media without really understanding what may be involved and getting the proper precautions and training. And if your kids are trying such Superman Challenge things with proper precautions and training, maybe they aren’t getting the proper “super”-vision.
