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‘Dumb Ways to Die’: What is TikTok’s dangerous trend? Know its origin

From poking a stick at a grizzly bear to eating a tube of superglue, the 'Dumb Way to Die' track shows blob-like characters dying in bizarre ways

Warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised

A keen and enthusiastic TikTok user must have come across the 'Dumb Ways to Die' song at least once. The upbeat yet incredibly morbid tune has been around for an entire decade, and it’s recently kick-started a new trend on TikTok. It can be fun for some, but we can't overlook the potential harm it can cause. 

The trend, which has made its way back onto the platform, has people doing funny and dangerous things with the song 'Dumb Ways to Die' in the background. From standing on a cliff edge to jumping in icy cold water in the middle of the snow, TikTokers are sharing all sorts of videos with the song in the background. But what is this dangerous trend all about? 

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What is the 'Dumb Ways to Die' trend all about?

In this trend, while making videos, TikTok users are going viral with clips of times they were hurt in the most unlikely way. Despite the fact that the persons in the videos are shown in intimate settings, the absurdity of how they got there is making people chuckle and horrified on the app. It is also important to note that because users are engaging in risky and occasionally destructive behavior, these films may trigger certain individuals. A user shared a video, "Oh that had to hurt.."

There are numerous videos online of people doing various bizarre antics while the song is playing in the background. With the song playing in the background, it appears that the majority of the activities in the videos could prove fatal for the person creating them. One example is the viral video of a girl putting her face under a car's headrest with people trying to help her. 

What is the origin of the audio? 

The catchy audio used in the 'Dumb Ways to Die' TikTok trend started as a way to promote railroad safety. It was written in 2013 by Metro, a Melbourne-based rail network in Australia. The song and accompanying cartoon video encouraged train passengers to be aware of their surroundings.

The three-minute ad depicts colorful blob-like characters dying in countless careless ways. From poking a stick at a grizzly bear to eating a tube of superglue, each character suffers an unfortunate death while a light-hearted tune plays in the background.