Scientists have confirmed that teenagers are easy to get involved when witnessing similar behaviors, namely performing dangerous actions to see “who is more harmful”.
And with the popularity of social media games like the “TidePod” challenge, in which teenagers challenge each other to swallow a laundry detergent capsule, alarming US officials, experts warn that it will increasingly more difficult to protect teen children from harmful influences from outside.
Previously, a game called Blue Whale also caused dozens of teenagers to die when convincing players to watch horror movies, do self-torture actions and eventually commit suicide.
Young people should not imitate risky behaviors of their peers. (Illustration: SHUTTERSTOCK).
In new research, team leader – Dr. Livia Tomova of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT-USA) – has devised a game that is not dangerous but can reflect the player’s thoughts in performing actions. risk.
According to a report in the journal Scientific Reports, they asked 52 students to participate in a game of inflating bubbles to make money. If the bubble bursts the player will not be paid and the risk of the bubble bursting increases with each pump.
After the first round, the participants who said they would watch how others did it followed suit.
This means that students are more likely to keep pumping the ball to the point of bursting if their peers do the same.
“In our daily lives, we humans are often faced with decisions that can have serious consequences for us,” says Dr. Tomova.
“For example, the choice of whether to drive on the road, participate in the game of who drinks more alcohol or have sex with strangers all have a big impact on each person’s life,” said Ms. Tomova. , and young people can completely protect themselves if they can give up the thought of having to lose with friends.