“Blood-Curdling Screams”: The Dangerous Viral Trend Exploding in Auckland Homes

A heartbreaking warning is circulating among Auckland parents today after an 8-year-old local boy suffered severe burns to his face and neck by copying a viral online trend. The trend, which has been making the rounds on TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook, falsely claims that heating popular gel-filled squishy fidget toys in the microwave makes them softer and more satisfying to play with.

Instead, the internal scalding gel superheats and ruptures. Auckland father Richard Harri described hearing a “blood-curdling screech” from the other room before finding his son covered in the boiling interior fluid. “You can’t get the stuff off, and it’s burning your skin while you’re trying to pull it off—it’s horrendous,” Harri shared.

Official Warning Issued

Internet safety group Netsafe has urged parents to have immediate conversations with their kids regarding content that promotes heating toys. Consumer NZ is also putting pressure on manufacturers to introduce clear warning labels, but for now, checking your kid’s digital feeds is the best line of defense.