This Social Media Challenge Is Just Wrong

Last week, a Texas teenager sparked national outrage after she posted a video of herself opening a tub of Bluebell ice cream, licking it, and putting it back on a Wal-Mart shelf. That girl has since been arrested and faces felony charges of product tampering, which could land her in prison for twenty years.

After the first video went viral, the supermarket involved removed all tubs of “tin roof” flavored Bluebell ice cream and handed the video over to police. They identified and arrested the woman in the video shortly after. The woman is a juvenile and has not been named.

But her arrest didn’t stop copycat Bluebell lickers from creating their own stomach-churning videos. Over the weekend, a 31-year-old Louisiana man was arrested for trying to recreate his own viral video. He now faces criminal charges for the unlawful posting of criminal activity for notoriety and publicity, as well as criminal mischief.

While the “ice cream lickers” might consider their actions a harmless prank, safety experts beg to differ. They said the actions displayed in the videos can spread harmful viruses and bacteria, including listeria and the flu, to unsuspecting consumers–which is why tampering with consumer products in this manner is a serious crime.