safeguarding alert - 
Viral Trend Risks Causing Severe Burns to Children

 A recent safeguarding alert highlights a dangerous viral trend circulating across platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, involving children and young people microwaving squishy silicone toys (often sold as NeeDoh-style toys, jelly cubes or stress balls). 

While these toys are safe when used as intended, online videos are encouraging children to heat them in microwaves to make them softer. This can cause the toys to overheat internally and burst, releasing boiling material which has led to serious burn injuries. 

🚨 What is the risk?
The key danger comes from misuse influenced by online content, not the toy itself.
When microwaved:

• The outside may feel cool while the inside reaches boiling temperatures
• The toy can burst unexpectedly when squeezed
• Hot liquid or gel can cause severe burns to hands, face, and eyes

In some reported cases, children have suffered serious injuries requiring hospital treatment.

📱 Why this trend is spreading
This trend is being shared through short-form videos that can make the activity appear:

• Harmless or fun (“life hack” style content)
• Easy to replicate at home
• Popular within peer groups or school settings

Algorithms may also amplify this content once a child engages with it, increasing visibility to similar videos.

👨‍👩‍👧 What parents and carers should know
Many children will not see this as dangerous and may:

• Not seek adult permission before trying it
• No longer have packaging warnings available
• Be influenced by peers or online videos

It is important to remember this often happens without adult supervision.

💬 How to support children
Parents and carers can help by:

• Talking openly about online “trends” and why not everything online is safe
• Using examples of everyday toys to start conversations about risk
• Reinforcing that “viral” does not mean “safe”
• Encouraging children to ask before trying anything seen online
• Checking in on content they are watching on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube 

🛡️ Key message
This is a clear example of how online content can directly influence offline behaviour, sometimes with serious consequences. Ongoing conversations, curiosity, and calm guidance remain one of the most effective ways to keep children safe.