Stunts, pranks and challenges: TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and more
The short answer
Stunts and challenges that could seriously hurt someone get removed on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, X and Pinterest.
- Smaller risks limit reach: TikTok keeps activities with moderate harm, like small cuts or bruises, off For You, and Snapchat doesn't recommend non-professionals' dangerous stunts.
- Fake-danger pranks are out too: YouTube removes pranks that make victims fear serious danger, like a fake kidnapping, and Snapchat doesn't recommend pranks that fake a break-in or a car crash.
- Instagram, Facebook and Threads show dangerous driving to adults only, and TikTok puts a warning on stunts and extreme sports by professionals.
- TikTok
- YouTube
- X
- Threads
- Snapchat
At a glance
| Platform | What can happen | Its strictest rule |
|---|---|---|
| TikTok | Taken down, Shown to fewer people, Labeled or needs a disclosure | Dangerous stunt, challenge or risky driving |
| YouTube | Taken down, Demonetized | Adults risking serious injury or death |
| Taken down, Age-restricted | High-risk viral challenge | |
| Taken down, Age-restricted | High-risk viral challenge | |
| X | Taken down | Dangerous challenges, stunts or harmful drug use |
| Threads | Taken down, Age-restricted | High-risk viral challenge |
| Snapchat | Shown to fewer people | Dangerous stunt or challenge by non-professionals |
| Taken down | Harmful prank or dangerous challenge |
The rules, side by side
Each row is a platform's own rule: what it means, what the platform says, how to fix it, and where to read it in full.
| Platform | The rule, in plain words | In their words | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | Dangerous stunt, challenge or risky drivingRemovalNon-professionals doing dares, challenges or stunts with visible or likely serious injury (broken bones, burns, poisoning, choking), eating or drinking unsafe items, or risky driving including driving under the influence.Fix: Cut the stunt or driving footage. Never film yourself while driving. | “Risky driving, such as driving under the influence” | |
| TikTok | Risky activity that could cause minor injuryNot recommendedShowing or promoting dangerous activity with visible or likely moderate harm (small cuts, light bleeding, bruises).Fix: Cut the risky moment or show safety gear and supervision; add 'do not try this' context. | “Content showing activities that may lead to moderate physical harm is ineligible for the FYF, restricted to users 18 and older, and may include a warning label.” | |
| TikTok | Professional stunts or extreme sports get a warningLabel or warningProfessionals performing stunts, combat sports or extreme sports.Fix: Make the professional context clear (event, league, credentials, safety team) in the caption or on screen. | “We also apply warning labels to content featuring stunts, combat sports, or extreme sports performed by professionals.” | |
| YouTube | Adults risking serious injury or deathRemovalAdults doing acts with risk of serious harm or death that viewers could copy, or praising them; extremely dangerous driving (into oncoming traffic, on sidewalks).Fix: Remove encouragement and praise, add safety context, or cut the dangerous footage. | “Acts performed by adults that have a risk of serious harm or death.” | |
| YouTube | Dangerous challenge or threatening prankRemovalChallenges with imminent risk of injury (choking, eating non-food items, fire, electrocution) or pranks that make victims fear serious danger (fake weapons, bomb scares, fake kidnapping or home invasion) or cause serious distress to minors or vulnerable people.Fix: Drop the act or reframe as education that explains the risks on camera. | “Pranks that lead victims to fear imminent serious physical danger, or that create serious emotional distress in minors or vulnerable individuals.” | |
| YouTube | Dangerous stunts, harmful pranks or vomit challengesDemonetizationContent mainly showing accidents, dangerous acts or challenges that could cause serious harm; pranks involving death, weapons, terrorism, sexual acts or prolonged distress of minors; consuming things until vomiting; minors in dangerous acts.Fix: Cut injury and vomit moments, use professional and controlled settings, and don't prank children. | “Showing the consumption of substances in such quantities that it results in a graphically shocking physical reaction such as vomiting after eating a ghost pepper.” | |
| InstagramFacebookThreads | High-risk viral challengeRemovalFootage of a high-risk viral challenge (any context), or promoting or encouraging one; coordinating or admitting to swatting.Fix: Do not show the challenge being performed; talk about it without the footage. | “Imagery depicting high-risk viral challenges, regardless of context.” | |
| InstagramFacebookThreads | Dangerous driving or mid-risk stunts (adults only)Age restrictionFootage of dangerous driving that could cause life-threatening injury (street racing, speedometer at extreme speed, filming while driving recklessly), or promoting mid-risk viral challenges.Fix: Cut the reckless-driving shots or show it in a clearly professional setting. | “Imagery depicting dangerous forms of driving a motor vehicle that could lead to life-threatening injuries or death to the driver or others, except if shared in fictional or professional settings.” |
|
| X | Dangerous challenges, stunts or harmful drug useRemovalVideo showing or encouraging dangerous challenges or stunts that risk injury or death, or harmful drug or substance abuse, without recovery context.Fix: Do not film or promote risky challenges. If showing one for news or warning purposes, do not show how to do it and say clearly why it is dangerous. | “Dangerous challenges or stunts” | |
| Snapchat | Dangerous stunt or challenge by non-professionalsNot recommendedNon-professionals doing stunts or 'challenges' that could cause injury, illness, death or property damage.Fix: Don't post amateur dangerous stunts; show safety measures or use professional footage with context. | “These Recommendation Eligibility Guidelines deny amplification to content that depicts dangerous activities performed by non-professionals, such as stunts or “challenges” that could result in injury, illness, death, harm, or property...” | |
| Snapchat | Prank that makes someone fear injury or lossNot recommendedA prank that could make the victim believe they are in imminent danger of injury, death or loss (fake break-ins, fake car crash, fake kidnapping, fake fire).Fix: Drop the scare element or don't post the prank. | “That could cause the victim to believe they are in imminent danger of injury, death or loss.” | |
| Harmful prank or dangerous challengeRemovalPranks or challenges that risk imminent physical harm or extreme emotional distress, especially involving minors.Fix: Don't post the stunt or prank. | “Harmful pranks or challenges that risk imminent physical harm or extreme emotional distress, especially if showing or encouraging the participation of minors” |
Laws that apply on every platform
These come from laws and advertising regulators, not from a platform, so they follow you to every app in the places they cover.
| Where | The rule, in plain words | In their words | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everywhere | Harmful content filtered from UK teen feedsNot recommendedThe video contains 'priority content harmful to children': dangerous challenges or stunts likely to cause serious injury, encouraging people to take harmful substances, bullying, abuse or hatred targeting protected characteristics, encouraging serious violence, or realistic serious violence or graphic injury to people or animals. Platforms with recommender systems must filter such content out of children's feeds.Fix: Cut the dangerous or graphic parts, add clear 'don't try this' framing only where the content does not encourage copying, and remove bullying or abusive segments. Expect lower reach among UK teens for anything left in this area. | “Content which encourages, promotes or provides instructions for a challenge or stunt highly likely to result in serious injury to the person who does it or to someone else.” |