The Dangerous TikTok Microwave Trend Parents and Grandparents Should Know About ...Saudi Arabia

Every few months, it seems like a new dangerous TikTok trend goes viral. From the fire and Benadryl challenges to the Beezin trend, these potentially deadly social media dares have become more commonplace as TikTok has become more engrained in the daily lives of teens and tweens. Unfortunately, most of these viral trends reach adolescents' social media feeds without their parents' knowledge. Sometimes, children without social media also hear about them from their friends and give the challenges a whirl without knowing the potential consequences. This is exactly what happened to nine-year-old Caleb Chabolla of Illinois, who recently took part in the dangerous new TikTok microwave trend.Chabolla made headlines this week when photos of the burns he sustained after microwaving a popular toy went viral. Luckily, the child survived the incident, but safety and burn experts are now warning parents and grandparents about the serious side effects that can result from the microwave challenge.Below, Parade is breaking down everything you need to know about this risky TikTok trend and sharing insight from burn and safety experts. We've also included commentary from mental health professionals who are sharing tips for how to talk to your children and grandchildren about this worrisome trend.Related: Child Psychologists Are Begging Parents and Grandparents to Never Turn a Blind Eye to These 10 Habits

What Is the New TikTok Microwave Trend?

According to a press release obtained by Parade, Chabolla was treated at Loyola Medicine’s Burn Center. The burn center listed details of the incident, which occurred on Jan. 20, 2026. In the morning, the nine-year-old microwaved a NeeDoh cube sensory toy. The cube, which was filled with "gelatinous material," exploded in Chabolla's face and hands when he opened the microwave."There are many TikTok videos of people microwaving these toys to make them more pliable. Caleb, who is not on social media, heard from a friend at school and decided to try it, unaware of the risks," the press release reads.  

When Chabolla's mother saw how much pain her son was in, she took him to the emergency room. From there, he was transferred to Loyola Medicine’s Burn Center. A spokesperson for the burn center tells Parade that Chabolla was treated for second-degree burns on his face, ear and hands.

Courtesy Loyola Medicine

"Upon arrival, Caleb’s burns were washed, his dead skin cut away and ointment was applied to his injuries. Due to the proximity to his eye, which was swollen shut from the burn, Caleb was also seen by an ophthalmologist. Thankfully, his vision was unimpaired by the accident," the spokesperson shared.

Paula Petersen, a burn center advanced practice nurse, also shared the following statement in the press release: “Unfortunately, Caleb’s is the fourth case we have seen this year with NeeDoh cubes. Caleb is very lucky he didn’t sustain greater injuries.”  Related: The Dangers of Water Beads: How a Popular Sensory Toy Could Cause a Trip to the Hospital or Worse

The Risks You Should Know About

Dr. Alice Fagin, FACS, a burn surgeon with Shriners Children’s Ohio, tells Parade the TikTok microwave challenge has many potentially dangerous side effects.

"We have treated two teenagers in the last week who sustained burn injuries from this TikTok trend. We have seen second-degree burns to the face and hands from the heated silicone," she says.

Courtesy Loyola Medicine

The burns children sustain in these incidents can often lead to scarring. There's also a risk of eye injuries or "potential loss of sight" and "the potential of ingesting toxic materials."

A Shriner's Children press release obtained by Parade details how the organization has seen patients with burns from the microwave challenge at all four of its verified pediatric burn centers over the last few weeks.

From a fire safety point of view, it's often dangerous for children to use microwaves in the first place, according to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Communications Manager Susan McKelvey.

"When children do begin to use a microwave—the appropriate age depends on parents’ and/or caregivers’ discretion—they need to learn what is and isn’t safe to put in the microwave," McKelvey tells Parade. "Toys and other objects not designed to go in the microwave can heat up to very high temperatures, resulting in fires and injuries, such as burns, that present serious risks to children and adults alike."

Whether you think your child or grandchild might participate in the TikTok microwave challenge or not, it's best to stay informed about these viral trends as they arise. After all, kids are naturally curious.

"Children are drawn to social media challenges because their brains are wired for belonging, novelty and social approval. Online platforms amplify those instincts. When kids see peers attempting a trend without immediate consequences, it creates a false sense of safety," clinical psychologist Dr. Jenny Yip says.

Since the videos rarely show injuries or long-term harm, the risks can feel "abstract or invisible," per Yip.

"Kids aren’t thinking about emergency rooms. They’re thinking about fitting in, being noticed and doing what looks normal in their online world," she tells Parade.

Related: These 11 Phrases Can Help You Raise Emotionally Resilient Kids, Psychologists Say

This is a critical element to consider before talking to your children, according to Mindful Care clinical psychiatrist Dr. Tamir Aldad."Children are not doing these challenges because they are reckless or unintelligent. They are doing them because their brains are still developing in a digital environment that is engineered to reward imitation, visibility and risk," he says.

When your child or grandchild takes part in a dangerous social media challenge, it's easy to blame them or yourself. But Aldad says it's important to pause before doing so.

"This is not about poor parenting or bad kids. It is about immature brains being exposed to adult-level persuasion systems without adequate protection," he stresses.

How Parents and Grandparents Should Talk About This Trend With Kids

If you're hoping to get ahead of the issue, both Aldad and Yip encourage parents and grandparents to openly address these potentially hazardous challenges with children. Here are some tips for opening the conversation:

"Effective conversations start with curiosity rather than fear or punishment. Ask children what they saw and what they thought would happen, then clearly explain that many online videos omit the moments when people get seriously hurt," Yip says.Related: 9 Empathic Phrases To Adopt To Be a Better Listener, According to a Psychologist

2. Explain the risks of social media challenges

"Parents can explain, in age-appropriate language, that social media does not show the full story. Many videos leave out injuries, hospital visits or consequences, and some are intentionally designed to shock or go viral rather than keep people safe. Framing it as 'These platforms are built to grab attention, not protect you' is often more effective than saying 'Don’t be stupid,'" Aldad explains. 

"It also helps to give kids a simple rule they can remember, such as: 'If a video asks you to use heat, electricity, sharp objects, chemicals or anything you would not do in front of a trusted adult, it is automatically unsafe. No exceptions,'" Aldad notes.

4. Keep the lines of communication open

"Parents can establish an 'ask first' culture where children are praised for checking with an adult before trying something they see online. The goal isn’t to scare kids, it’s to help them learn that the internet is not a safety guide and that pausing to ask questions is a strength, not a weakness," Yip says.

Up Next:

Related: 7 ‘Often Overlooked’ Life Skills That Parents and Grandparents Should Teach Kids, a Child Psychologist Warns

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