US Edition9-Year-Old Severely Burned After Following TikTok Trend, Hospital Says
Caleb Chabolla is the fourth child treated at Loyola Burn Center this year for injuries caused by microwaving NeeDoh sensory toys linked to a viral TikTok trend.
- On the morning of Jan. 20, Caleb Chabolla microwaved a NeeDoh Nice Cube, which exploded and burned his face and hands; he was treated at Loyola Medicine's Burn Center and is recovering at home.
- TikTok videos show people microwaving the NeeDoh Nice Cube toy; the product page warns `Do NOT heat, freeze, or microwave.`
- Loyola burn staff reported this is the fourth Needoh-related case this year, with roughly 30% of patients being children, and Caleb suffered second-degree burns on one side of his face and his hands.
- Whitney Grubb, his mother, said he is recovering and will rejoin his fourth-grade class soon after a follow-up at the burn clinic on Tuesday morning.
- TikTok said it removes dangerous videos proactively, with Nick Smith, TikTok spokesperson, citing 99.8% removed in Q3 last year and Schylling partnering to remove misuse content, while online commenters debated responsibility after Scarlett Selby's 2025 case.
21 Articles
21 Articles
9-Year-Old Suffers Severe Facial Burns After Dangerous TikTok Trend Goes Horribly Wrong
Caleb Chabolla, a 9-year-old boy from Chicago, Illinois, is recovering at home after suffering second-degree burns to his face and hands while attempting a dangerous social media trend. He has become the fourth child treated at a local hospital for injuries tied to the same viral behavior. Caleb was injured on the morning of January 20 while getting ready for school. According to a news release from Loyola Medicine, the child attempted to micro…
9-year-old boy suffers burns after attempting viral social media trend. Multiple similar cases reported in US
A nine-year-old boy in the US suffered serious burns after trying a viral social media trend with a gel-filled toy. Authorities warn parents to watch online content closely, as similar incidents have been reported nationwide. Experts urge caution to prevent children from copying risky online challenges.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 41% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
