A new dangerous trend is gaining popularity among teenagers on TikTok.

At the American Academy of Pediatrics conference, a new study was presented that revealed a disturbing trend — videos about 'chroming' are spreading on TikTok, attracting the attention of minors. Chroming is the inhalation of toxic vapors from household items, such as nail polish remover, markers, aerosol deodorants. This can lead to serious health issues, including damage to the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs. Moreover, chroming can cause addiction and even death.

The study analyzed 109 videos with the hashtags #huffing and #chroming on TikTok, which amassed over 25 million views. It was found that 39% of the authors of such videos are minors. This implies that teenagers are especially vulnerable to the influence of social media and dangerous trends.

In the videos, markers (31%) and aerosol air fresheners (17%) were most frequently mentioned. Other mentioned items included nail polish, solvents, gasoline, and deodorants. In half of the videos, there was talk of repeated use and signs of addiction.

Dangerous trends among teenagers

Chroming is not the only dangerous trend among teenagers. Another alarming trend is the inhalation of nitrous oxide (Galaxy Gas). This underscores the need for preventive measures and spreading information about the dangers of such practices.

Pediatricians and parents should be attentive and inform teenagers about the risks of chroming and similar dangerous trends to prevent possible negative health consequences. It is also important to develop critical thinking in teenagers so they can evaluate information on social media and make informed decisions.