Social media is notorious for the great deal of danger it poses to vulnerable users. Time and time again dangerous activities and substances surface as hot trends to be participated in without proper awareness on the subject. The latest product of the algorithm, laughing gas, better known as Galaxy Gas, stands to be no different.
Both product and company name, Galaxy Gas, is an additive for whipped cream, stored in tanks as flavored nitrous oxide. Similar to Sharpies and white-out, Galaxy Gas has gained traction on social media as something to inhale and get high on. With people such as Kanye West openly consuming nitrous oxide, it was only a matter of time before this epidemic reached the everyday person.
While The Seahawks Eye highly discourages the use of all substance drugs, there must be extra emphasis on laughing gas due to its high detrimental effects. For one the gas is highly addictive, and for an adult to consume it, let alone an adolescent whose brain isn’t fully developed, would be catastrophic.
According to the NSW Ministry of Health, consequences can include fainting, loss of blood pressure, dizziness, hypoxia, and even sudden death. Though the immediate possibilities are scary enough, the long-term effects consist of memory loss, anemia, a weakened immune system, and even vitamin B12 depletion, which could lead to spinal cord and brain damage. Psychological effects may occur as well, usually as psychosis or a dependence on the gas.
We at The Seahawks Eye will continue to voice our opposition towards all substances and clarify the risks associated with them, especially when there’s a large absence of fact in the publicity around them. In fact, the little amount of information presented when such wolves in sheep’s clothing are circulated is a defining attribute that makes new trends like inhaling Galaxy Gas so dangerous.
A large number of kids with unmoderated internet access are potential victims of these dangerous internet trends. The never-ending cycle of unhealthy activities spreading, being tried by immature kids, and ending horribly, sometimes even fatally, needs to be stopped.
Even with such disastrous ramifications, some still find the gas appealing due to the romanticization of it in social media. Considering the unreliable narratives social media can portray, it is important for students to stay vigilant and avoid falling into such dangerous rabbit holes. While it may seem appealing online, it only takes one bad decision for a life to change and a future to be compromised.
Though students should be held responsible for what they consume on the internet, it is vital to recognize that parents are to be held accountable as well. Not only should parents be aware of what possible activities their children could be involved in, but also what they’re exposed to, as this may put them at risk of using such glorified substances. Increased knowledge of what negative influences a child is subject to on their device could just save their life.
The safety of the youth is one of the prime goals of those in the Nest and us at The Seahawks Eye. Spreading awareness about the dangers of the latest social media movements can not only stop our peers and children from committing an irreversible mistake but could also save their lives. With that being said, be sure to navigate social media responsibly, avoiding the past, and future unsafe movements promoted.
