Shriners Children’s Warns Children and Parents About Viral Social Media Trends Causing Severe Burns

Physicians are urging parental supervision as "popular" food trends send children to burn units.

Research shows that 95% of children under 17 use social media, including platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Children ages 8 to 10 are especially impressionable, making them more likely to imitate viral challenges without fully understanding the risks. As social media and pop culture continue to shape how children act, play and even eat, physicians at Shriners Children's Boston are urging parents to pay attention to popular food trends that can lead to serious burns.

Young fans have recently taken to social media to recreate their favorite scenes and snack moments from Netflix's hit animated movie, K-Pop Demon Hunters. Viral videos with hashtags like #KPopNoodleChallenge and #DemonHuntersRamen show children eating the popular Korean instant noodles just like the characters in the movie. These products, often known as "tippy soups," are tall, narrow, microwavable noodle cups that are easy to knock over and are a leading cause of scald burns in children. These burn injuries often occur after children microwave the cups themselves and spill the hot liquid onto their bodies when removing them from the microwave.

"Instant noodles make up nearly one-third of pediatric scald burn injuries, and at Shriners Children's Boston, we see injuries like this two to three times a week," said Colleen Ryan, M.D., associate surgeon at Shriners Children's Boston, which specializes in pediatric burn care. "Water boils at 212 degrees, and the design of these cups makes them extremely easy to tip over. When they do, the hot broth and noodles spill onto the skin. For adults, exposure to hot water for just three seconds at 140 degrees F can cause second-degree burns, while a five-second exposure can result in a third-degree burn. Children have thinner skin the younger they are, and the temperature threshold for burn injury is even lower. The noodles are sticky and retain heat, which means these noodle soup burns can be deeper and more damaging than a simple hot water scald."

This isn't an isolated issue. In 2024, the viral "DIY Tanghulu" trend of making candied fruit using boiling sugar resulted in dozens of children being hospitalized with second- and third-degree burns. This trend continues to gain traction in 2025, as eight patients have been treated at Shriners Children's Boston so far this year.

"These types of traumatic injuries are entirely preventable," Dr. Ryan said. "We're not saying kids shouldn't participate in fun trends, but they must do it safely and with adult supervision. Be careful when using the microwave; use proper containers and appropriate precautions when handling hot containers. Consider preparing these foods in a pot on the stove. A single spill can cause a deep and painful burn, resulting in a lifelong scar. The emotional toll can be just as severe, affecting a child's self-esteem and making them feel different."

If a burn does occur, Dr. Ryan recommends running cool water over the injured area for 20 minutes. This prevents the burn from going deeper and promotes healing.

If your child receives a scald burn:

• Remove the child from the hot liquid immediately
• Remove any clothing at the site of injury
• Run cool tap water over the injury for at least 20 minutes
• Do not put ice on a burn

Seek medical attention and call 911 if necessary. Once the injury has been assessed in an emergency setting, continue care at a healthcare facility with pediatric burn care expertise.