A political party in North Macedonia has called for a ban on social networks promoting dangerous content after at least 17 students were injured attempting the viral "Superman challenge" on TikTok.

Health authorities reported that children aged 10 to 17 were hospitalized in Skopje and other towns with broken bones, contusions, and bruises over the past week. The injuries occurred as participants were thrown into the air by peers in a bid to mimic superheroes for online acclaim.

The Liberal-Democratic Party, formerly part of the left-led ruling coalition, condemned the spread of harmful social media trends in a press release on Saturday. "The irresponsible spread of dangerous content on social media, such as the latest TikTok ‘challenge’ known as ‘Superman,’ has injured six children across the country in just the past 24 hours," the statement read.

The party called for urgent action, demanding "immediate measures to ban content that incites violence and self-destructive behavior, increase surveillance, and sanction platforms that enable dangerous trends."

Education Minister Vesna Janevska also weighed in, urging students to prioritize education over TikTok challenges. "The ban on mobile phones in schools will not have an effect. Phones will still be accessible at home, in neighborhoods, and other environments," Janevska noted.

Psychologists have linked the rise in risky behaviors among children to a desire to follow social media trends and excessive smartphone use. They emphasized the importance of parents and educators engaging with students to raise awareness about the dangers of such challenges.

The "Superman challenge" is the latest in a string of social media trends raising alarms globally, prompting debates over the regulation of digital platforms and the protection of vulnerable users.