Now, concerns have been raised over a bizarre new craze which has seen school children and teens playing a Ouija-board inspired game at home.
The Charlie Charlie Challenge is based on a belief that players can connect with a dead Mexican spirit known as Charlie, and young Twitter users have been taking to the social media site to post images of the questions they have been asking this so-called spirit.
The game, which has swept Twitter in the past number of days, entails placing two pencils on a piece of paper in the shape of a cross with the words ‘yes’ and ‘no’. The ‘player’ then repeats the phrase “Charlie, Charlie, can we play?” in order to ‘connect’ with the spirit.
The player is then supposed to wait until the pencil moves towards ‘yes’ before proceeding with their question. To end the game, the player must chant “Charlie, Charlie, can we stop?” Once the pencils move, the players then need to drop them to the floor to break contact.
#charliecharliechallenge did I do it right? pic.twitter.com/DQytI1DlFD
— Jé Dot (@JP3_85) May 24, 2015
While many have dismissed the game as silly, some parties have expressed concern over what it may lead to.
A priest at an American high school warned students against participating in the game, writing a letter which branded it “dangerous”.
“There is a dangerous game going around on social media which openly encourages impressionable young people to summon demons. I want to remind you all there is no such thing as ‘innocently playing with demons’. Please be sure to NOT participate and encourage others to avoid participation as well,” wrote Fr. Stephen McCarthy.
What are your thoughts?
