10 Times Netflix Caused Major Viral Trends

3. Bird Box – The Blindfold Challenge

When Netflix dropped the 2018 hit film Bird Box, everyone and their mums were watching it. No seriously, my mum made me watch it. Once again, a Netflix project spread around the globe like an infectious disease; word of mouth being the strongest influence of all, but this time something else added to the spread:

The Bird Box Challenge.

Youtuber Morgan Adams decided to upload a harmless challenge in which she spends 24 hours blindfolded anytime she went outside, a la the movie. Like most YouTube trends, it completely blew up because of the slight dangerous element to it. Videos in which people completed the challenge began to get more and more hazardous as clout chasing teens started completing more and more dangerous activities while blindfolded.

Netflix had successfully started a YouTube trend that was quickly gaining traction, while news outlets began reporting on the videos and how dangerous it was getting.

For once Netflix had to make a statement on one of their shows causing a viral trend, and this time you KNEW it was unintentional for sure. They warned against the challenge saying on their official twitter account: “Can’t believe we have to say this, but PLEASE DO NOT HURT YOURSELVES WITH THIS BIRD BOX CHALLENGE”.

I wonder if for once Netflix regretted the deal they made with the devil to become the most talked about streaming service of all time?