Responding to ‘Bird Box’ challenge, Netflix calls for safety and common sense

The streaming service saw thousands log in to watch its new horror film—but with popularity comes internet absurdity. Can the company deter recklessness without getting preachy?

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How much responsibility should an organization take for the unsafe activities people undertake?

Internet culture has become increasingly fond of the “challenge,” in which internet users share videos of themselves doing silly and sometimes dangerous things out in the real world. Recent examples include the “In My Feelings” challenge and now the “Bird Box” challenge—the latter inspired by a recent Netflix film.

The film, starring Sandra Bullock, is a suspense-thriller in which the characters travel through a dystopian landscape wearing a blindfold to avoid becoming possessed. The movie has inspired some YouTubers to go out into the world with blindfolds, for as long as 24 hours, to see whether they can stay out of trouble.

What could possibly go wrong?

Netflix has taken to its social media channels to ask users, pretty please, to use their eyes out there.

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