Decode the meme history: The Tide Pods challenge

If you're stuck in social media sites pre-pandemic, most likely you've seen the Tide Pods challenge that is being done by millennials and even Gen Zs! In this article, we'll take a look back at this infamous meme, and we'll also trace why this trend started! (via X/@LostMemeArchive)

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What made the Tide Pod Challenge a craze?

Well, it started in 2018. A certain YouTuber, Aaron Swan, posted a video of him supposedly "eating" a Pods made by Tide, and the rest was history as other people followed suit—including kids! (via X/@mattryanx)

As the trend grew bigger and bigger, the main social media sites were trying so hard to take down each Tide Pods challenge video, but the challengers were persistent, re-uploading their content of them eating the pods.

Because the said craze is taking the internet by storm, the creators of the pods, Tide and P&G, issued a statement saying that the challengers who took, or are still in the process of taking on, the pods challenge can face serious injuries and health hazards if they actually eat the said laundry product. (via X/@ajplus, @tide)

Even if Tide and P&G warned the kids and the grown-ups about the health hazards of eating the pods and joining the said challenge, people didn't listen, and instead, a rise in sales for the said pods increased because, well, it's been used to create content just to make the challengers look tough or cool, not caring about their health at all. (via X/@FallonTonight)

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What happened after the Tide Pods challenge?

Well, after the challenge boomed for how many months, it soon died down because people took the warnings seriously, especially when one of the challengers was hospitalized after doing the challenge.

After the trend died down, kids and even grown-ups have found different challenges and trends, and they have forgotten all about the pods challenge that they once tried. (via X@thepeacepoet99)

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Although this challenge is just a fad of our youth, it's still crazy how this challenge took the internet by storm and how it became the nightmare of every parent. The emergence of this challenge is also a lesson in having resistance when it comes to joining a trend because, like we all know, trends can be okay, but sometimes, they can also put you in a tight situation.

So folks, let's not do another pods challenge; instead, let's just try to think of creative challenges that don't make your health worse.

NOTE: This challenge is not meant to be done at all because it's hazardous to your body and it will ruin your health. If you're planning on reviving this challenge, please pause and reflect if it is worth it.