The internet has presented the teens of Twitter with many, er, "risky" challenges in the past year. For every relatively safe video of the "Mannequin Challenge," for instance, there were videos of teens tripping all over themselves in school hallways for the (admittedly hilarious) "Trump's coming challenge". But perhaps the greatest risk of all that young Twitter has engaged in this past year is the new "Hell challenge" on Twitter, which involves — brace yourselves, fellow compulsive parent pleasers — asking your parents if the word "hell" is a swear word and seeing how they react.
The challenge actually involves two parts, both of which are filmed. The brave videographer asks their parent if "hell" is a bad word, and then regardless of how the parent answers, proceeds to casually drop the word "hell" in a conversation. The reactions are across the board, some of them hilariously delayed, some nonchalant, and some the stuff that viral parent-on-the-internet gold is made of. Fortunately or unfortunately, though, many parents got hip to the "hell challenge" too fast, and knew what was up as soon as the kids asked. Still, that hasn't prevented Twitter from documenting some hilarious footage.
It does present an interesting question, though: is "hell" a swear word? The internet can't seem to provide a definitive answer, except for that it depends on context. Talking about "hell" as a place, for instance, is typically not considered cussing, but using it in a sentence (ie, "What the hell?") is usually enough to get a rise out of parents. If you don't believe me — well, watch 'em and weep.
"I Don't Know, Tell Me When You Get There"
I think it's safe to say NOBODY was expecting that.
"I'm Trying To Watch The Voice"
Poor Kayla.
"Well Damn, I Don't Know"
OK, that was the best one. Hands down.
"Bad Context Again!"
I lied before. THIS was the best one.
"IF YOU SAY IT ONE MORE TIME"
How many houses got cleaned at the expense of hell challenge-raising teens this week?
Mic Drop
OOF.
When The Student Becomes The Teacher
He tried, though.
In any case, I think this most accurately sums up the feelings of the thousands of people who have been watching and retweeting the "hell challenge" as it unfolds:
Welp, now I have to go calm myself down from the stress of watching these by watching Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead or anything less hilariously savage than these videos. Good luck, everyone.
Image: Thomas Barwick/DigitalVision/Getty Images
