Apparently, social media became a place to dare your friends to do things

The summer is over but some of the dumb, trendy things that started while we were out of school are still happening every five minutes. I don’t know about you, but every other post being an “ice bucket challenge” is extremely annoying.

However silly it seems to watch videos of people dumping ice water on themselves, this challenge has managed to raise $53 million. It’s hard to argue with that, but if you don’t donate to ALS as a part of doing the challenge, do not feel so entitled that you post your video into my feed. I’ll watch it when you actually donate money.

The ice bucket challenge is intended as a fundraiser for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, ALS is a degenerative disease that causes the brain to lose control over muscles in the body.

Everyone seems to be piling on with the fad of the ice bucket challenge, a lot of whom do not donate to the cause. Huge a-list celebrities, prominent politicians and everyday people like you and me are posting videos of themselves getting water dumped on their heads.

The challenge has become a phenomenon on social media. And although it is well-intentioned and has made millions of dollars, it seems like the point of the challenge is getting lost in the Internet buzz.

It comes off as a bandwagon stunt that, instead of focusing the point of its true meaning of ALS research, puts the person doing the challenge in the spotlight for the sake of popularity.

A lot of people are dumping ice water on their heads for their friends to see as a way to not donate money to charity. Now, that may not be what is intended, but that is basically what people are doing. Let’s face it, a lot of people in your feed aren’t giving to charity.

Actor Patrick Stewart did the ice bucket challenge the correct way. He posted a video in which he wrote a check for ALS research and then used the ice to make himself a drink.

It can be fun to participate in Internet fads, but if you really want to be apart of society, just donate money to help your fellow man, rather than making a spectacle of yourself. The world thanks you.

The stupidest thing seen on the Internet this summer has even been an actual cause of death.

“The fire challenge” seen on Facebook has participants dousing themselves in flammable liquid and, believe it or not, literally setting themselves on fire.

People are actually doing this. It sounds like an Onion headline, but it’s totally real.

Self-immolation has been used by protesters throughout time to raise awareness for various important causes, like protesting the Vietnam War and general protests of tyrannical governments. Although these types of protests cannot be condoned as they are intended to cause death, they shouldn’t be mocked albeit unintentionally either.

Although death is tragic and shouldn’t happen to people at such a young age, if you’re stupid enough to set your body on fire as a joke, bad things are bound to happen.

What would possess someone to set themselves on fire for fun? Life isn’t something to be taken for granted, nor should this activity be encouraged or condoned by anyone.

This fire challenge shouldn’t be done to satisfy to a cheap thrill in your life. I don’t know who is more dumb, you for doing the fire challenge or your friends for egging you on.

Fads come and go. Most social media outlets are fads and have yet to prove their longevity. Instead of wasting your time on these popular things to show your friends, do something meaningful with your life.