Youth freeze for new viral challenge

REMEMBER the Ice Bucket Challenge? Or the Harlem Shake? Planking? Lip Dubs?

Another video meme has emerged to distract the internet. If you haven’t seen the Mannequin Challenge in your social media feeds or on your TV screen, you probably will soon.

In this latest viral video genre, groups of people are gathering and freezing themselves in place, often in elaborate poses and scenarios, as one camera-toting person walks through the scene to zoom in on the details. As is often the case, teenagers are leading the way.

Many of the videos are set to the song BlackBeatles by Rae Sremmurd, making it the unofficial anthem of the meme. (The rap duo recorded its own version of the challenge at a concert last week.)

It’s goofy and it’s innocent fun. That means we must turn to the inevitable question: Now that there’s a good thing, how long until adults ruin it?

We regret to inform you that the Olds have already discovered it. Putting aside the fact that it’s been written up in the NewYorkTimes (sorry), and the Fox NFL Sunday pregame show and the SEC Network performed their versions on TV this weekend. It surely won’t be long until marketers get approval to create their own.

While it’s still fun, there are countless videos to watch if you search for #MannequinChallenge on Twitter.