What is the deadly social media challenge "chroming?"

Onur Demirkol
Jun 5, 2023
Apps
|
6

Recently, a 13-year-old girl from Australia was killed due to a social media challenge named "chroming." What is the social media chroming challenge that caused Esra Haynes' death? Let's take a deeper look at it and explain how it led to her death.

The social media chroming challenge has recently taken away the life of Esra Haynes, and people from all over the internet searched the term last month. It is a very dangerous trend that everybody should stay away from, and below you can find information about it.

social media chroming challenge
TikTok

What is the social media chroming challenge on TikTok?

Chroming is a hazardous trend that has become more popular on social media sites like TikTok. To get an instant high, a person inhales the fumes of harmful substances like deodorants, paint, glue, or nitrous gas. Your health and well-being could be seriously harmed or even lost as a result of this activity.

It is not a new trend as its roots are believed to go back 4-5 years ago. The practice of inhaling anything from aerosol cans to metallic paints, gas, and solvents appears to be a variant of the decades-old practice of huffing or sniffing various compounds. According to The Strait Times, two 16-year-old males lost their lives in 2019 as a result of engaging in the trend.

Even though it is an old trend, the search term saw a huge spike on May 14, the day when Esra Haynes lost her life due to alleged chroming. The social media chroming challenge is believed to be her cause of death.

In a series of guidelines published on its website, the Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) in Melbourne explained that the trend entails a risk of tachycardia or an increased heart rate, and "varying levels of CNS depression," or Central Nervous System depression, which happens when a substance slows brain activity.

The National Retail Association provided a definition to help people understand what "chroming" is. Although it has a more comprehensive explanation, the term "chroming" originated from the practice of sniffing chrome-based paint or deodorant in order to "get high."

Who is Esra Haynes?

social media chroming challenge
Credit: A Current Affair

The 13-year-old Australian Esra Haynes recently lost her life due to alleged chroming. Esra passed away on March 31 as a result of cardiac arrest brought on by inhaling deodorant container fumes. After eight days on life support, her family opted to turn off the equipment because doctors said her brain was "damaged beyond repair."

Read Also: Ireland is the next country to ban TikTok

"We want to help other children not fall into the silly trap of doing this silly thing. It’s unquestionable that this will be our crusade. No matter how much you lead a horse to water, anyone can drag them away. It’s not something she would have done on her own," Paul Haynes, Esra's father, said.

Advertisement

Tutorials & Tips


Previous Post: «
Next Post: «

Comments

  1. bruh said on August 18, 2023 at 1:25 pm
    Reply

    Uhh, this has already been possible – I am not sure how but remember my brother telling me about it. I’m not a whatsapp user so not sure of the specifics, but something about sending the image as a file and somehow bypassing the default compression settings that are applied to inbound photos.

    He has also used this to share movies to whatsapp groups, and files 1Gb+.

    Like I said, I never used whatsapp, but I know 100% this isn’t a “brand new feature”, my brother literally showed me him doing it, like… 5 months ago?

  2. 💥 said on August 18, 2023 at 3:55 pm
    Reply

    Martin, what happened to those: 12 Comments (https://www.ghacks.net/chatgpt-gets-schooled-by-princeton-university/#comments). Is there a specific justifiable reason why they were deleted?

    Hmm, it looks like the gHacks website database is faulty, and not populating threads with their relevant cosponsoring posts.

  3. 45 RPM said on August 19, 2023 at 6:29 pm
    Reply

    The page on ghacks this is on represents the best of why it has become so worthless, fill of click-bait junk that it’s about to be deleted from my ‘daily reads’.

    It’s really like “Press Release as re-written by some d*ck for clicks…poorly.” And the subjects are laughable. Can’t wait for “How to search for files on Windows”.

    1. owl said on August 20, 2023 at 12:51 am
      Reply

      > The page on ghacks this is on represents the best of why it has become so worthless, fill of click-bait junk…

      Sadly, I have to agree.

      Only Martin and Ashwin are worth subscribing to.
      Especially Emre Çitak and Shaun are the worst ones.

      If ghacks.net intended “Clickbait”, it would mark the end of Ghacks Technology News.
      Ghacks doesn’t need crappy clickbaits. Clearly separate articles from newer authors (perhaps AIs and external sales person or external advertising man) as just “Advertisements”!

      We, the subscribers of Ghacks, urge Martin to make a decision.

  4. chessandonions said on August 20, 2023 at 12:40 am
    Reply

    because nevermore wants to “monetize” on every aspect of human life…

  5. Frank Rizzo said on August 20, 2023 at 11:52 pm
    Reply

    “Threads” is like the Walmart of Social Media.

  6. Ashray said on August 21, 2023 at 4:06 pm
    Reply

    How hard can it be to clone a twitter version of that as well? They’re slow.

  7. Paul(us) said on August 21, 2023 at 5:16 pm
    Reply

    Yes, why not mention how large the HD files can be?
    Why, not mention what version of WhatsApp is needed?
    These omissions make the article feel so bare. If not complete.

    1. Paul(us) said on August 21, 2023 at 5:18 pm
      Reply

      Sorry posted on the wrong page.

  8. Marc said on August 21, 2023 at 6:00 pm
    Reply

    such a long article for such a simple matter. Worthless article ! waste of time

  9. plusminus_ said on August 21, 2023 at 7:54 pm
    Reply

    I already do this by attaching them via the ‘Document’ option.

  10. John G. said on August 21, 2023 at 11:43 pm
    Reply

    I don’t know what’s going on here at Ghacks but it’s obvious that something is broken, comments are being mixed whatever the article, I am unable to find some of my later posts neither. :S

  11. Tom Hawack said on August 23, 2023 at 2:28 pm
    Reply

    Quoting the article,
    “As users gain popularity, the value of their tokens may increase, allowing investors to reap rewards.”

    Besides, beyond the thrill and privacy risks or not, the point is to know how you gain popularity, be it on social sites as everywhere in life. Is it by being authentic, by remaining faithful to ourselves or is it to have this particular skill which is to understand what a majority likes, just like politicians, those who’d deny to the maximum extent compatible with their ideological partnership, in order to grab as many of the voters they can?

    I see the very concept of this Friend.tech as unhealthy, propagating what is already an increasing flaw : the quest for fame. I won’t be the only one to count himself out, definitely.

    1. Tom Hawack said on August 23, 2023 at 2:34 pm
      Reply

      @John G. is right : my comment was posted on [https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/23/what-is-friend-tech/] and it appears there but as well here at [https://www.ghacks.net/2023/07/08/how-to-follow-everyone-on-threads/]

      This has been lasting for several days. Fix it or at least provide some explanations if you don’t mind.

  12. Tom said on August 24, 2023 at 11:53 am
    Reply

    > Google Chrome is following in Safari’s footsteps by introducing a new feature that allows users to move the Chrome address bar to the bottom of the screen, enhancing user accessibility and interaction.

    Firefox did this long before Safari.

  13. Mavoy said on September 16, 2023 at 2:17 pm
    Reply

    Basically they’ll do anything except fair royalties.

Leave a Reply

Check the box to consent to your data being stored in line with the guidelines set out in our privacy policy

We love comments and welcome thoughtful and civilized discussion. Rudeness and personal attacks will not be tolerated. Please stay on-topic.
Please note that your comment may not appear immediately after you post it.