Dubai Schools Warn Parents of Viral Skull Breaker Challenge

Schools and authorities in Dubai have issued urgent warnings to parents after reports of students engaging in the dangerous Skull Breaker Challenge and other risky social media trends that pose serious threats to children’s health and safety.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) said they have seen incidents involving pupils participating in unsafe behaviours, including self-choking, breath restriction and the Skull Breaker Challenge, a trend where individuals are tripped mid-jump, leading to forceful falls.

“These behaviors pose serious and immediate risks to children’s health,” the KHDA said, urging parents to reinforce safety messages at home and speak openly with their children about the dangers.

To help families understand the dangers linked to these social media challenges, the DHA is hosting virtual awareness sessions in both English and Arabic on January 15 and 22. The sessions aim to educate parents about the potential health risks of breath-restriction behaviours and how to prevent them.

Medical experts have stressed the severity of the risks involved. Restricting oxygen to the brain, even for brief moments, can lead to seizures, permanent brain damage, or death. Pressure on the neck and head can also cause spinal injuries and sudden cardiac events.

Parents have been urged to monitor their children’s online activity, check for physical signs of risk such as bruising or redness around the neck, and remain attentive to behavioural changes like secrecy about social media usage or sudden mood shifts.

Schools are addressing the matter directly with students, but authorities emphasise that parental partnership is essential to reinforce safety lessons beyond the classroom. The KHDA has warned that any pupil found participating in, encouraging, or recording such dangerous behaviours will be subject to disciplinary action in line with school policies, and in serious cases may be referred to external authorities.

Authorities emphasise that the Skull Breaker Challenge and similar viral trends are not harmless fun. The KHDA urged parents to reassure their children that such acts can cause serious harm or life-threatening consequences and to maintain open lines of communication so children feel comfortable sharing concerns about online content or peer pressure.