YouTube Says No To Bird Box: Updated Guidelines Prohibit Users From Performing Dangerous Challenges And Pranks

Video-sharing platform YouTube has updated their community guidelines in a bid to inform its users that the website will not host viral and dangerous pranks like Bird Box challenge and Tide Pod stunt, The Tribune has reported.

The updated guidelines come in the wake of various viral Bird Box challenges which are urging participants to move around wearing blindfolds. Recently a girl in US State of Utah had reportedly crashed her car in a parking lot while attempting the challenge.

“YouTube is home to many beloved viral challenges and pranks, but we need to make sure what’s funny doesn’t cross the line into also being harmful or dangerous,” the Community Manager of YouTube Team, Camilla wrote in a blog post.

Camilla added that the updated guidelines make it clear that YouTube does not allow challenges which present a risk of danger or health as well as “pranks which make victims believe they’re in serious physical danger or cause children to experience severe emotional distress.”

According to the report, YouTube has seen an increase in its users posting video’s of themselves while they are performing dangerous stunts and challenges.

A year ago, the platform had to initiate similar action by removing videos of the Tide Pod challenge, in which participants put their health at risk by swallowing bright-coloured laundry detergent packs, “pods”.