Netflix Warns Viewers Not to Do the ‘Bird Box’ Challenge
Netflix’s Bird Box has sparked countless memes since it debuted on the streaming service in December. And now fans are taking their obsession one step further by trying to recreate the circumstances of the film in real life — with potentially dangerous results. It’s called the #BirdBoxChallenge, and Netflix wants people to stop doing it. (Or at least be very, very careful.)
In the movie, Sandra Bullock plays a woman trying to survive in an apocalyptic world where she has to blindfold herself and her children in order to avoid seeing a monster that prompts you to kill yourself on sight.
Apparently, some viewers were curious about how they might fare if they found themselves in a similar situation. Hence, the #BirdBoxChallenge, where people blindfold themselves (and, in some cases, their kids) and try to perform everyday tasks.
The #BirdBoxChallenge hashtag already boasts more than 15,000 posts on Instagram. Most of the attempts are relatively harmless, but a few have resulted in people running into walls, wandering into traffic, or falling. Even Good Morning America host Michael Strahan got in on the action by trying to put lipstick on Sara Haines while blindfolded. It… did not go well.
#BirdBoxChallenge: @michaelstrahan attempts to put lipstick on @sarahaines with a blindfold on! #GMADay https://t.co/G4PdrKdY6w pic.twitter.com/h5HIWtJtXw
— Good Morning America (@GMA) January 2, 2019
The challenge has become so popular that Netflix felt compelled to tweet a warning to participants. “Can’t believe I have to say this, but: PLEASE DO NOT HURT YOURSELVES WITH THIS BIRD BOX CHALLENGE,” the streaming giant tweeted on Wednesday, January 2. “We don’t know how this started, and we appreciate the love, but Boy and Girl have just one wish for 2019 and it is that you not end up in the hospital due to memes.”
Can’t believe I have to say this, but: PLEASE DO NOT HURT YOURSELVES WITH THIS BIRD BOX CHALLENGE. We don’t know how this started, and we appreciate the love, but Boy and Girl have just one wish for 2019 and it is that you not end up in the hospital due to memes.
— Netflix US (@netflix) January 2, 2019
Be safe, friends!
Would you (safely) try the Bird Box challenge? Let us know @BritandCo!
(photo via Saeed Adyani/Netflix)
