In October 2024, seven-year-old Scarlett Selby from Festus, Missouri, suffered severe injuries after attempting a TikTok and YouTube-inspired experiment involving a NeeDoh stress toy. The incident has prompted her parents to issue urgent warnings about the potential dangers of replicating online content without proper safety considerations.
Scarlett had observed videos where individuals froze and then microwaved NeeDoh cubes—a popular squishy toy filled with a gelatinous substance—to alter their texture. Curious to try it herself, she placed the toy in the freezer overnight and microwaved it the following day. However, upon removing it from the microwave, the toy exploded, causing molten goo to adhere to her face and chest.
Her father, Josh Selby, recounted the harrowing moment: “I heard her scream, and it was like a blood-curdling scream.” He rushed to her aid, attempting to remove the sticky substance, but found it challenging due to its adhesive nature. Scarlett’s mother, Amanda Blakenship, added that their daughter was in immense pain during the 30-minute drive to St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
At the hospital, doctors placed Scarlett in an induced coma for three days to prevent her airways from swelling shut due to burns around her mouth. She sustained second and third-degree burns and required a feeding tube during her week-long hospitalization. Although doctors opted against immediate skin grafts, they are monitoring her recovery, with the possibility of future procedures if necessary.
The psychological impact of the incident has also been significant. Amanda noted that Scarlett becomes self-conscious about her scars, sometimes trying to cover them in public or expressing distress when peers inquire about them. Amanda reassures her by emphasizing her strength and beauty, stating, “She went through a lot, and it was a terrible, terrible accident… She’s still beautiful, and those scars make her who she is.”
In response to the incident, Josh has been vocal about the potential dangers of misusing NeeDoh toys, urging parents to discard them to prevent similar accidents. He described the substance inside as akin to hot glue, emphasizing the difficulty of removing it once it makes contact with the skin.
The manufacturer, Schylling Toys, has issued warnings against heating, freezing, or microwaving their products, stating that such actions may cause personal injury. Their website explicitly advises: “Do NOT heat, freeze, or microwave, may cause personal injury.”
Additionally, platforms like TikTok have policies against content promoting dangerous activities. Despite these measures, hazardous challenges continue to circulate, leading to incidents like Scarlett’s.
This case underscores the importance of parental supervision and awareness regarding children’s online activities. Amanda expressed her heartbreak over the incident, emphasizing the need for vigilance: “It was terrible how scared she was and how much that hurt her.”
Scarlett’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the potential risks associated with replicating online content without proper safety measures. It highlights the need for clear warnings from manufacturers, responsible content moderation by social media platforms, and proactive parental guidance to ensure children’s safety in the digital age.
