Internet Culture

The internet is falling for the milk crate challenge

Don’t break your back doing the milk crate challenge.

Photo of Audra Schroeder

Audra Schroeder

A man climbing a pile of milk crates.

It’s been a minute since we’ve had a legit, multi-platform-encompassing challenge. Now there’s the #milkcratechallenge.

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The premise of the milk crate challenge is that someone must walk up and down a pyramid-shaped stack of crates without falling. There is documentation of people joyfully completing the challenge, as well as showing off other skills while doing it—like rolling a blunt or walking it in heels.

But the majority of participants are not sticking the landing, which is part of the draw. And, of course, many people are getting injured. A crate challenge in Shreveport, Louisiana was reportedly interrupted over the weekend after a shooting left three people dead.

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https://www.twitter.com/Yesssterday/status/1428435664773787652
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The origin of the milk crate challenge

The trend appears to have started on Facebook in mid-August, but it quickly spread to TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram. The #milkcratechallenge tag has more than 1.5 million views on TikTok, and #cratechallenge has more than 27 million views. Know Your Meme points out that this trend isn’t brand new: There’s a 2011 video in which a man tries to run across milk crates and falls.

Milk crate challenge memes

Now there are milk crate challenge memes.

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https://www.twitter.com/MrDubC/status/1429222352701820928

Because many of the videos are from the Black community, people had thoughts on the intent of the milk crate challenge.

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https://www.tiktok.com/@finalestackup/video/6999408694832270597

Even Cardi B weighed in on the memes.

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All this is to say: Please exercise extreme caution if you attempt the challenge. Maybe start small.

https://www.tiktok.com/@fruitfulsoulstv/video/6999349912299113734
 
The Daily Dot