The Ice Bucket Challenge is back! How did it originate and why everyone seems to be doing it in 2025
Now, more than a decade later, Ice Bucket Challenge videos are once again surfacing on social media. However, this time, the trend is supporting mental health issues.
The 2025 rendition of the Ice Bucket Challenge, this time called the #SpeakYourMIND Challenge, was started by students at the University of South Carolina in the Mental Illness Needs Discussion club. The club has partnered with Active Minds, a mental health nonprofit, to restart the viral Ice Bucket Challenge.
The club posted the The #SpeakYourMIND campaign to its social media channels on March 31, gaining 124,000 likes on Instagram alone. The trend has taken off on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and beyond.
The students partnered with Active Mind, a mental health nonprofit, to create a way to fiscally support their cause through donations, as well as amplify the activism efforts.
Brett Curtis, Director of Community fund at Active Minds, said that this trend lies beyond a single person, media or clip.
"This is not a one and done conversation," Curtis said. "We hope it continues well beyond the trend."
The Ice Bucket Challenge originated in 2014 when Pat Quinn, Pete Frates, Anthony Senerchia started the worldwide trend of dumping a container of icy water on yourself. The goal of the challenge was to raise awareness and funds to fight ALS.
The challenge works that same as it did in 2014. All that is new is a new hashtag and cause to support.
People are taking the Ice Bucket Challenge for the same reason as they did a decade ago: To support a good cause.
In 2025, the Ice Bucket Challenge is helping to break the stigma surrounding mental health and to support suicide prevention efforts, according to USC MIND's post. Additionally, Active Minds is accepting monetary donations to support its mission of mobilizing youth and young adults to transform mental health norms across society.
So far, the Ice Bucket Challenge has raised more than $249,000.
Like the original challenge, lots of students and youth are engaging with the social media trend. Curtis also hopes that the challenge will "fuel, equipt and empower" young people to be leaders in the mental health conversation.
The Ice Bucket Challenge is simple to participate in: All you need is a bowl or bucket of ice water and a phone to film yourself. That's it!
If you're nominated to take the Ice Bucket Challenge, set up the camera to film a family member or friend dumping a bucket of ice water on your head. Once you complete the freezing task, you can nominate two to five more people to join the viral trend.
Share your video online with #SpeakYourMIND and tag @uscmind on socials. You can also support the cause fiscally by making a donation online to support Active Minds.
Yes! In addition to creating global awareness for ALS, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge raised about $115 million to support ALS research and care for those affected by the disease, according to the ALS Association.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Who started the Ice Bucket Challenge 2025? New cause, same, same idea
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
an hour ago
- Los Angeles Times
Doing it all: Evan Razmjoo excels at speech and debate and finds success in the field of journalism
In comparison to his accomplishments in his high school career, senior Evan Razmjoo said earning the position of editor-in-chief of his school's newspaper didn't seem like something to write home about. 'This is the first time hearing about that,' Razmjoo's brother and rising sophomore at Stanford University, Max Razmjoo, said. 'In the back of my mind, I knew that this was the logical next step for him, and I've got no doubt that he will be the perfect leader for the publication.' Razmjoo has a good amount of leadership experience going into his senior year at Corona del Mar High School. In 2021, Razmjoo co-founded a speech and debate nonprofit alongside his brother, called Youth Prose Scholars. As an experienced debater and public speaker himself, Razmjoo said he wanted to start YPS to spread speech and debate education to underfunded schools that didn't have the budget for debate teams. Now mentoring and sponsoring more than 27 debate teams, YPS has grown beyond Orange County and has allowed Razmjoo to spread public speaking education worldwide. 'Through [YPS] I've been able to have a lot of meaningful interactions with various kids we've taught, from California to Japan,' Razmjoo said. 'We've helped students use their voices for meaningful change, and have taught them how to advocate for themselves. I hope we can continue to expand into the far future.' HSI isn't new to Razmjoo either– he's been a member of the Student Advisory Board since fall 2024 and is a frequent contributor to the site. Razmjoo said he saw the HSI internship as an opportunity to broaden his skills in journalistic writing and make connections. He said the story he pitched on his application came to him while 'just going through random studies.' Ironically, it was during this scrolling that he stumbled upon a study from the National Institute of Health, highlighting the detrimental effects of doomscrolling on the brain. 'I saw some alarming statistics on the significant effects of social media on our brain, and it caught my eye because it mentioned doomscrolling, which is such a Gen-Z thing,' Razmjoo said. While there are many negative effects of social media usage, Razmjoo said he's also interested in using it as 'a tool' for young journalists to promote their work to a wider audience. One of his main goals for next year is to use his role as EIC to boost engagement and readership for his school paper, the CDM Trident. 'Engagement wasn't really a topic we discussed at school, but I always thought it was kind of a big deal. That inspired me to plan various activities, such as doing scavenger hunts for newspapers and fun surveys on our Instagram,' Razmjoo said. 'I've been working with our social media team, and I'm hoping that our advertising and subscriptions will double next year.' Despite being so involved with journalism today, Max Razmjoo says he 'never would have pictured' his brother as a journalist five years ago, but is certain that the work they've done together for YPS has laid the foundation for a successful future in the field. He notes that his brother winning the New York Times' Teen Tiny Memoirs competition solidified this certainty, as his brother's winning piece demonstrated 'his ability to tell stories in impactful ways.' 'In his story, he connected his experiences playing basketball to my dad's immigration to the U.S. from Iran, creating this powerful metaphor,' Max Razmjoo said. 'I really admire how he always steps outside of his comfort zone to push his own creativity.' During his time at the HSI internship, Evan Razmjoo hopes to learn more about multimedia journalism and expand his knowledge of professional tactics to bring back to his own writing and school paper. 'With a newspaper like the L.A. Times, there's always a lot to learn from the amazing professional journalists on staff,' Razmjoo said. 'I think it's essential for people to have quality information, because that leads to positive discourse. I want to learn how to make my work meaningfully inform my community in that same way.' Related
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Mom Takes Eye Off Baby for '1 Second,' Not Ready for What Attacks
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. A mom thought she was filming a cute video of her twins toddling around the garden, until an unexpected intervention changed everything. Lenore Coulter, from Auckland in New Zealand, could never have predicted what she would end up capturing on camera when she picked up her phone to film twins Te Aokapurangi and Waimirirangi, who were 11 months old at the time. "That day, the girls had been having a snack while I did some gardening. I had finished, so I let them out to play," Coulter told Newsweek. "I decided to film them because they had only just learned to walk." What happened next came in the blink of an eye. Writing in a caption accompanying the Instagram video that documented what unfolded, Coulter said she took her eye off Waimirirangi for "1 second." That was enough time for a surprise guest to make their presence felt. "I was trying to keep both of them on the screen, but I was more focused on Te Aokapurangi, the twin that's walking away, because she was on the move," Coulter said. "Out of nowhere, I saw Waimirirangi falling and then saw that the cat was the reason." In the clip, the feline can be seen seemingly wrestling the young toddler to the ground with no apparent provocation. Having a pet is a huge responsibility, but it also carries some often-overlooked benefits. Having a cat, for example, has been shown to be beneficial to your mental health. A 2015 study published in the journal Anthrozoos saw cat owners and other adults answer a questionnaire to assess their psychological health. Based on the responses given, cat owners were found to be happier, more confident and less nervous than those without pets. The responses also indicated that they slept better; were more focused on day-to-day tasks; and problem-solved more efficiently. This particular cat didn't seem to be doing much to aid Coulter's mental health, if the clip posted to her Instagram @life_as_lenore was anything to go by. In fact, Coulter revealed a further twist in this particular tale. "It's not actually our cat," Coulter said. "The cat belongs to a house across the road, but he roams in and out of everyone's houses; he's not shy he comes into the house, too." Though the feline's actions caught her off-guard, Coulter was able to deal with the situation quickly, and no real harm was done. "Once I realized, I dropped the phone and ran to her," she said. "She cried a little, but I think she was more startled than anything." As for why the feline did it, Coulter has a pretty good idea. "I assumed the cat was getting revenge for the day before when Te Aokapurangi had been rag-dolling him. But, after reading thousands of comments on the video, I think he might have been trying to pick her up," she said. Ultimately, Coulter was able to see the funny side of it all. While she has been dismayed to see some casting aspersions about her parenting in the comments, she said she hopes the majority of viewers just see the clip in the lighthearted manner it was intended. "I want people to know that life is short, be present and enjoy every moment," Coulter said.
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Miami Herald
Shelter Dog's Death at Miami Facility Sparks Heat Safety Concerns
Rocky, a 3 to 4-year-old pit bull terrier mix, died last weekend at Miami-Dade County's overflow animal shelter in Medley after rapidly deteriorating from apparent heat-related distress, according to local reports and social media posts from the agency. The dog appeared healthy during his morning walk before becoming lethargic and vomiting in his kennel, according to NBC 6 South Florida. Despite emergency treatment at the facility's clinic and the main Doral shelter, veterinarians were unable to stabilize Rocky, leading to his death. Newsweek reached out to the Miami-Dade County Animal Services via email outside of normal business hours for comment on Saturday. Rocky's death has intensified scrutiny of animal shelter conditions across Miami-Dade County, particularly regarding temperature control during extreme heat periods in Florida. The incident has sparked widespread community concern and social media outcry about potentially unsafe conditions at municipal animal facilities. With over 500 animals currently under county care and summer temperatures reaching dangerous levels, the case highlights broader challenges facing animal welfare systems nationwide as they struggle with capacity limitations and infrastructure adequacy. The Medley overflow facility houses 117 of the county's 526 animals in care, operating as an open-air building designed to accommodate the system's overcrowding crisis. According to shelter officials, Rocky appeared healthy during his morning walk but quickly declined by midday when staff noticed his lethargy and discovered him vomiting in his kennel. Annette José, director of Miami-Dade County Animal Services, told local station 7News, "Rocky was out for a walk acting, like his usual self. But later, became to get lethargic. Alerted staff to keep an eye on him. He was found in his kennel after vomiting. Quickly, staff and volunteers ran him to our clinic that we have here and tried to get his temperature down." Emergency protocols were immediately activated, with staff and volunteers rushing Rocky to the facility's on-site clinic where they attempted to reduce his body temperature through IV fluid treatment. When these interventions failed to stabilize the dog, he was transferred to the main Doral shelter for advanced veterinary care, but medical staff were ultimately unable to save him. Recent facility tours by 7News revealed approximately a dozen industrial fans scattered throughout the Medley location, with kennel thermometers previously photographed showing temperatures reaching 91 degrees. Former volunteers criticized the fan placement to the news outlet, noting that some units blow air horizontally into concrete walls rather than providing direct cooling relief to animals. Additional cooling measures include continuous cold-water access, shaded play areas for exercise, and small pools for animal use. Miami-Dade Animal Services (@adoptmiamipets) wrote in a statement on Instagram last Saturday: "We are aware of the circulating concerns and discussions regarding the tragic recent loss of Rocky (#A2684435), and as always, we are committed to transparency and providing clarity. Our priority is to keep our community informed, and it is important to us that you hear the full details of what transpired to assure you that we are handling this with the same care and respect that we provide for all the animals in our care." "Today, our hearts are heavy as we share the loss of Rocky, a dog who had been with us at our Medley shelter since May. This morning, Rocky was bright and alert-even playfully jumping around in his kennel. He was housed inside the shelter where large fans run 24/7 to keep air circulating for the comfort of our pets. He and the other pets have access to play pools as well." The agency continued: "Around noon, a diligent volunteer observed Rocky lying down in his kennel with vomit present and promptly notified the staff. He was quickly assessed and, though still alert and able to walk, he collapsed near the play yard. Medical staff responded immediately, administering fluids and swiftly transferring him to our Doral clinic for more extensive care." "Upon examination, our veterinarians determined that Rocky was gravely ill and made the compassionate decision to humanely euthanize him to prevent further suffering. While we are still uncertain about the exact cause of this sudden condition, we have sent samples to the lab for analysis in hopes of uncovering more information." The animal service concluded the statement: "We want to assure our community that Rocky was never alone during this difficult time. From the moment a volunteer noticed something was wrong, to his final moments in the care of our veterinary team, he was surrounded by people who cared deeply and acted quickly to help him. In the end, he was met with kindness, love, and dignity. He was not just another animal in our care - he was a living being who touched the hearts of many." "We remain committed to the safety and well-being of every animal entrusted to us. The loss of Rocky is a painful reminder of how vulnerable these animals can be, and why we need our community's continued support to help us find them loving homes." A concerned Instagram user named @erinsharoni asked the agency: "Can you address the allegations that there are only 3 working fans in the Medley facility when just one year ago with the community raised $15,000 to purchase seven fans from @bigassfans that are now nowhere to be found?" Miami-Dade Animal Services continues investigating Rocky's death while awaiting laboratory results to determine the exact cause. Related Articles Major IRS Changes Coming for Business Tax Audits in 2025Dangerous Heat Wave Threatens Over 30 Million Across SoutheastKristin Cabot Pictured for First Time Since Kiss Cam, Without Wedding RingCould South Park's Trump Attack Cost Paramount? Legal Experts Weigh In 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
