Orbeez Challenge Hits Manteno

By Eric Peterson

Social media challenges have been a way for massive amounts of people to raise awareness and generate much-needed funds for causes. According to ALS.org, the “Ice Bucket Challenge” generated $115 million for the national office of the ALS Association in 2014. However, the negative aspects of social media challenges find participants engaging in harmful and, at times, downright reckless activities.

While some challenges result in the participant taking the brunt of the damage, as is the case in the  “Cinnamon Challenge” – where participants eat a spoonful of cinnamon in under a minute without being able to drink anything, others involve encouraging harm to innocent bystanders, and the Manteno Police Department recently made a statement in regard to the latest viral trend known as the “Orbeez Challenge.”

To the unaware, Orbeez toys are small, squishy gel beads that absorb water and can be played with in a multitude of ways. Some owners of the toy bead found they could purchase toy guns specifically built to shoot gel beads and similar sized pellets and began recording themselves unleashing the toy weapon on the unsuspecting public, thus starting the “Orbeez Challenge.”

Although the Orbeez creators do not make or sell the toy guns used to shoot their gel beads, the purchase of the toy guns are easily made online or at any of a myriad of retailers. To make the issue more problematic, police departments across the country have reported incidents of “Orbeez Challenge” participants modifying and freezing the pellets to make them more difficult to burst causing more damage on impact.

Victims of the challenge throughout the country have sustained multiple injuries, including bruises, welts, eye damage, and sustained broken skin. The thoughtless challenges take any opportunity to make a viral video by targeting anyone from adults and children minding their own business walking on a sidewalk, to delivery drivers and mothers pushing strollers.

In addition to the physical damage caused by the beads, the other obvious negative implication involves the visualization of the participant brandishing the toy gun. While the weapon is made to look like a toy, it still can trigger those who have been involved in traumatic experiences with firearms in the past, or fool an unsuspecting victim who may be unfamiliar with firearms.

Manteno Police Chief Al Swinford stated they already have seen the toy weapons in Manteno, which in addition to the reports across the country, have impelled the Manteno Police Department to post on social media, among other forms of communication, tips and suggestions to residents in regard to the viral trend.

In the informative post, the Manteno Police Department stresses the dangers of shooting the gel beads due to the high velocity of the toy weapons, plus the fear and panic that can be generated in the instance a gel blaster gun is mistaken for an actual firearm.

Manteno Police also stated being involved in this challenge could bring serious criminal charges, despite the participants believing they are part of a game or seeking internet fame. Moreover, Manteno Police stated felony charges could be the result of the challenge, and parents of the participants also could be liable for the actions of their children.

“Possessing or shooting these guns on village property is a violation of city ordinance and will result in the gun getting confiscated,” Chief Swinford reported.

As social media brings new benefits and problems to our expanding world, information is key in stopping the damaging effects of thoughtless trends and challenges.