Teen Twitter is nothing without its challenges, both great and stupid. Recently, we saw kids roast each other in that classically immature “hurrr-durrr” voice for the #HuhChallenge. On the more daring side, they’ve been known to deliberately pass out and even set themselves on fire—because even if you die, going viral is forever. (Forever = about 30 seconds.)
The latest trend is unlikely to send anyone to the hospital, however, and makes clever use of teens’ inherent awkwardness. In the #FightingAirChallenge, one thrashes and flails as if trading blows with someone who doesn’t actually exist. Which makes them easier to beat.
https://twitter.com/jaackiiieeee__/status/789241873072136192
Sadly, the earliest use of the hashtag links to a Vine that has been deleted, so we have only the haziest idea of the concept’s origins. But another early video shows a group of girls engaged in a massive brawl with nobody.
https://twitter.com/pinknoveau/status/789213036682752001
And last December, long before the hashtag existed, it appeared that at least one dude was always ready to throw down against thin air.
When the weather/truck got u yucked up😂 pic.twitter.com/Yf5jvzG02V
— Himmothy (@Zellymac1) December 11, 2015
The year before, this Vine of a dude shadowboxing was also a viral hit.
But moving forward, the action choreography only got more intense.
#fightingairchallenge pic.twitter.com/bVHIpoOqRN
— Kikyo Minaj Tepes🌞 (@dauntewavxy) October 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/FreddyAmazin/status/789655305277706241
https://twitter.com/honestlydae/status/792872137510023170
https://twitter.com/gr8pgod/status/792834058396901376
https://twitter.com/mariahhfitch/status/792805576875077632
https://twitter.com/AvinPark2612/status/791454019268907008
Not everyone is a fan, however—the #FightingAirChallenge has its haters.
https://twitter.com/jerry_l_55/status/792788793967337473
These #fightingairchallenge videos are making y'all look like you're hallucinating off some K2. pic.twitter.com/AWRnNbNAAk
— Ashley 🇵🇸 (@bbybellhooks) October 30, 2016
Whoever started this first needs to be bitch slapped #fightingairchallenge pic.twitter.com/J5YUKfzvUv
— Slim (@BBadAssMonroe) October 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/suicidebully/status/792809602073104384
Please don't make this a thing #fightingairchallenge pic.twitter.com/rNd2ZAZe1W
— Harold’sChikin🐔 (@Chikineats) October 30, 2016
all y'all hoes doing that #fightingairchallenge look goofy as fuck. Just so y'all know.
— longliveUptJayy 🤟🏽 (@jayb_ands) October 20, 2016
Meanwhile, some highlighted previously existing examples of the gimmick.
https://twitter.com/GylfiPleasures/status/792823885687324672
the #fightingairchallenge got u all looking like pic.twitter.com/euLKj5LL2Z
— elvis (@elvisft) October 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/traceyfanclub/status/792805169465430017
Whatever your feelings about kids throwing wild punches in imitation of a knockdown melee, you can rest assured that—like all things now popular with the youth—it’ll be over by the time you’re done reading this sentence.