Internet challenges are known to have a great influence on teenagers and can be dangerous sometimes. However, a new internet challenge has encouraged people to do something rather positive and wholesome. In February, a challenge named #trashtag encouraged netizens to go pick up trash from littered locations and post it on social media. So far, the challenge has seen more than 130,000 posts on Instagram. 

The Trashtag Challenge

A number of people have been cleaning beaches, parks and roadways to complete the challenge and posting on social media. The trash tag challenge is aimed at bringing awareness about litter and plastic pollution. A group in India from Junagadh posted about collecting plastic thrown out by locals. Another page on Instagram influenced people to not let the challenge die and encouraged people to tag their friends and participate in the challenge.  

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Challenge was started in 2015 

The challenge was first started in 2015 by a clothing company UCO. "Me and a buddy of mine were out on a road trip in California and a receipt blew out of a window," recalls Steven Reinhold, a UCO people ambassador at the time. "We kind of felt bad about it because it was in a really pretty location, so we decided to pick up 100 pieces of trash." 

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Challenge targeted at ‘bored teens’

However, the challenge was reignited when Byron Roman challenged ‘bored teens’ on facebook to take up the challenge. Roman told CNN News that, "My post was mainly to inspire or motivate younger people to do something, It's about people going out and grabbing rakes, bags and gloves, and cleaning up their areas. It's amazing that people are out their taking responsibility for the planet. It's never too late to get started."

A few years ago, the Ice Bucket Challenge helped raise $115 million for the ALS Association. This challenge could help netizens do something positive too.

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