If you haven’t heard about the latest viral craze, get ready to slap your head. College and high school kids across the world are recording videos of themselves performing what is called #NekNominations.
What is NekNominations?
NekNominations are a sort of virtual hazing between friends that got its kick off in Australia a few years ago and has recently gone viral in the United States. Basically, the premise of this social drinking game is to record videos of you chugging an alcoholic drink (or, as they say in Australia, “necking”) and then nominate someone else (NekNominate) to do the same, just under crazier circumstances—say out of a toilet bowl or funneling it while riding a skateboard. It’s rumored that NekNominations started as a response or some kind of offshoot of a similar drinking challenge called “icing,” which grew to popularity more quickly in the U.S. but originated around the same time.
Sharp rise in popularity
The Daily Mail suggested that the sudden increase in global popularity for this ‘game’ had something to do with the London Irish rugby player Ross Ramson nominating his entire Facebook newsfeed on Christmas Eve. Since then, a whole slew Facebook pages have popped up that create a more efficient way for users to nominate each other (awesome!!). VICE interviewed one of the admins of a popular NekNomination Facebook page in January and, according to him, “It became a trend, and then when my page went up it kind of snowballed. It moved through Australia, then New Zealand, and now it’s even gaining traction in Europe.”
The invasion has begun
Lucky us, it has arrived here in the States and it’s getting more intense than ever. All across Facebook and YouTube you can find videos of guys (and a few brave girls) downing beers and liquor accompanied with some really uncomfortable additions like goldfish, battery fluid, crushed mice, bugs, engine oil and bird insides, to name a few potentially lethal concoctions. Some of the videos have spiraled so far out control that a handful of deaths have reportedly been linked to NekNominations.
Others have taken a potentially safer route and downed their concoctions in public locations while stripping down to their underwear, wearing bizarre costumes or some combination of the three.
If you’re not eating for the next few hours, check out a list of some of the most outrageous NekNomination videos here.
While NekNominations can be dangerous for anyone, they can be particularly lethal for young kids, high schoolers and college students as they try to out do each other to gain higher social standing or succumb to peer pressure. It’s important for parents to be aware of this trend and to talk with their kids about its potential dangers.
A social movement
It’s worth mentioning that social media was the ultimate catalyst for this new, sometimes fatal fad. While frat stars across the country may just think they’re participating in a fun #trending game and trying to rack up Likes, they don’t even think about what’s really compelling them to do so. Everyone praises social media for expanding the definition of ‘community’ and connecting individuals from across the world, but sometimes it’s worth turning a skeptical eye to the groupthink that so naturally comes from it.
Modern online trends typically build their quick popularity upon the amount of ridiculousness required to be accomplished (see #SelfieOlympics) or the danger level per attempt. It’s pretty safe to say NekNominations will eventually go the way of other previous trends like Tebowing, Planking and Te’oing and fade away. Like most things in life, participating in trends like these can be fun if they are approached with good judgement and knowing when it crosses the line to dangerous or unhealthy. In the meantime it’s good to know what you’re up against… especially if you may receive a NekNominate.
On second thought…
If you’re up for more traditional options of drinking with friends, Abita Brewing is holding its annual New Orleans International Beer Fest at Champions Square by the Superdome on Saturday, March 22. This event provides live entertainment, sampling of over 150 craft beers, beer education and seminars, games and more. Further down the road on May 12-18, American Craft Beer Week runs in various cities across the country, including New Orleans, and offers another opportunity to drink with friends in safer ways.