Cinnamon challenge facts for kids
The cinnamon challenge is a popular online trend. People try to eat a spoonful of ground cinnamon in less than a minute. They do this without drinking any water. Many film themselves and share the videos online. This challenge is very hard and can be dangerous. Cinnamon can dry out your mouth and throat. This can cause coughing, gagging, or even throwing up. It can also lead to serious breathing problems.
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How Did It Become Popular?
The cinnamon challenge became popular online around 2007. It really took off in early 2012. Many people posted videos of themselves trying it on YouTube. At its peak, nearly 70,000 mentions appeared on Twitter each day. By 2014, its popularity had decreased a lot.
Why Is It Dangerous?
Eating a spoonful of dry cinnamon is risky. The cinnamon powder quickly dries out your mouth and throat. This can make you cough a lot or even choke. It can also cause you to gag or throw up. Sometimes, people accidentally breathe in the cinnamon. This can irritate your throat and cause breathing difficulties. In serious cases, it can lead to lung problems.
The Cinnamon Challenge in Pop Culture
The cinnamon challenge has appeared in many TV shows and online videos.
On Television
The challenge was shown on the reality TV show Big Brother UK in 2011. Participants tried to eat cinnamon without water. NBA players Nick Young and JaVale McGee also tried the stunt publicly.
In 2012, the Discovery Channel show MythBusters tested the challenge. Two team members, Kari Byron and Grant Imahara, failed. Tory Belleci managed to swallow it, but it took him longer than 60 seconds.
The TV show Chicago Fire featured the challenge in 2013. The characters tried it to decide who would get an apartment. However, the challenge was stopped by their chief. In 2015, Freddie Flintoff tried it on A League of Their Own. Actor Matthew Gray Gubler also tried it unsuccessfully. The cartoon show Family Guy showed character Peter Griffin trying the challenge many times.
Online Videos
Many comedians have posted their cinnamon challenge videos online. Colleen Ballinger tried the challenge as her character, Miranda Sings, in 2012. Her video got over 2 million views. Another comedian, GloZell Green, gained over 50 million views. She used a large soup ladle of cinnamon instead of a spoonful.
In 2012, a large group attempt was held at RMIT University in Australia. Sixty-four people tried the challenge one after another.
