It was going so well—#Trashtag, or #CleanupChallenge, an online dare that resulted in people gathering to clean up rubbish and improve Myanmar’s environment. Finally, a constructive viral challenge.
And then Yangon’s Alex Aung put a cockroach on his face. At least that’s where #cockroachchallenge, the latest viral craze, is believed to have started.
The teenager placed a large bug on his cheek, its antenna tickling his nose, its scavenger instinct perhaps leaning towards his tear duct for refreshment, and then he posted the scene à la selfie on April 20.
“Can you do this,” he asked, with an almost prescient smiley emoji.
Well yes, Alex, the answer is a firm, “yes, we can,” as photos of other Facebook users with cockroaches sitting on their faces flooded the site.
His original post has amassed 5,600 likes and 18,000 shares and the craze has swept to the Philippines and Indonesia, giving tropical roaches (which tend to be big and can live headless for a week) their moment in the spotlight.
So there it is, the challenge: put a cockroach—or if you’re really cool, cockroaches—on your face and take a photo. Alex Aung has been contacted for comment on the craze.
Obviously we don’t recommend this viral relapse (bring back #Trashtag!) as the resilient insects are particularly gifted at spreading germs and bacteria that you don’t want in your life.
But take comfort in the old adage that “this too shall pass.”
