Netflix warns against 'Bird Box' challenge as dangerous trend goes viral

Videos of people stumbling around houses and other places blindfolded have gone viral

Web Desk

January 04, 2019

"Bird Box" stars Sandra Bullock, who plays a mother fleeing from a sinister force that turns anyone who sees it suicidal. She and her children don blindfolds to make their escape. Photo: Netflix

Streaming giant Netflix has appealed to viewers inspired by its newest film Bird Box not to participate in a potentially dangerous online challenge.

Fans of the movie are going to dangerous lengths to parody this make-believe thriller so much so that Netflix is urging them to keep their eyes open to the very real risks.

“Can’t believe I have to say this, but: PLEASE DO NOT HURT YOURSELVES WITH THIS BIRD BOX CHALLENGE,” the official Netflix account tweeted. “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.”

The challenge takes the core concept of Bird Box — wearing a blindfold at all times while wandering around outside. YouTube creator Morgan Adams, for instance, went about his daily life for 24 hours while blindfolded, earning more than two million views in five days.

Bird Box stars Sandra Bullock, who plays a mother fleeing from a sinister force that turns anyone who sees it suicidal. She and her children don blindfolds to make their escape.

Last week Netflix claimed that 45 million of its subscribers had streamed the thriller in its first week of release: a record for original movie content on the platform.