The “fire challenge,” in which a person douses himself in alcohol and then sets himself ablaze (all whilst being filmed), has spread throughout social media in recent weeks. Thousands of videos have been made, with varying results – from participants remaining unscathed and giggling to horrible second and third-degree burns and potential death.

Many teens across the U.S. have been hurt in recent weeks, including a 16-year boy from Santa Ana who poured nail polish remover on his chest and set it on fire, landing in a hospital for second- and third-degree burns on his neck, face and hips.

“Being burned alive was one of the worst things you can imagine,” explained the teen to ABC7. “It’s my fault. I can’t say nothing else besides it was a dumb idea.”

It sounds like torture, but in actuality people are fully committed to undergoing the ‘challenge’ as if an experiment in self-harm.

Multiple opponents of this new trend have voiced their concerns of Facebook, Twitter, and other social media websites, urging teens and irresponsible adults to ditch the risky challenge due to its horrifying consequences. In various videos that have gone viral on Facebook, participants have begun the video like a typical “fire challenge” clip but then paused midway to reveal that they were actually never planning to undergo the challenge in the first place. Instead, they deliver speeches or spoken word directed at those who have been enticed by the mind-boggling trend.

Check out some of the videos below: 

The trend is based entirely on gaining popularity and amassing followers. Essentially, the more outrageous the “challenge,” the more likely people will be watching and sharing the video. While the “fire challenge” appears to be the most ridiculous of the trends, other stupefying challenges include the “cinnamon,” “salt and ice,” and “condom” challenge. Let’s not forget “neknomination,” an online drinking came which blew up the internet earlier this year, despite causing several deaths.

Why are people putting themselves at risk for the entertainment of others? According to Dr. Moe Gelbart, director of the Thelma McMillen Center for Outpatient Chemical Dependency, who spoke to the Daily Breeze, teens often have a predilection to testing the limits of risky behavior. “As teens, they’re capable, motivated, hormones raging, emotions out of control. They want these experiences but don’t have the judgment capabilities to modulate it,” explained the medical expert.

“We had teens asphyxiating themselves by putting bags over their heads, or going on rooftops of industrial buildings and sniffing Freon, trying to get high,” explained Dr. Gelbart.

Teens engaging in these extreme behaviors are often responding to peer pressure, attempting to gain popularity, or responding to deep-seeded issue such as depression, self-esteem, and other mental problems.