The bicycle is, of all modes of transportation, perhaps the most revolutionary. Literally and symbolically, it allows us to go further using only the power of our own legs, and that's why it has often become a symbol of freedom, autonomy, and rebellion. We see this in The green bicycle, a Saudi film that tells the story of Wajda's dream of buying a bike like her friend Abdullah's, although in Saudi culture it is frowned upon for girls to cycle.
The bike connects us with classic series, summer rides and now also with a viral challenge that is all the rage: recording yourself riding a bicycle and committing all kinds of violations in the city center, dodging pedestrians as if it were a video game. An act that joins other recurring viral challenges, such as defecating in municipal swimming pools or taking reckless selfies in unexpected places.
It's clear that these practices put one's own and others' health and safety at risk. But a viral challenge is much more than an isolated or silly act: it's a tangible expression of how social media shapes behaviors beyond the screen. These challenges are incentivized by algorithms and loaded with social meanings of belonging, status, and validation. They sit at the intersection of the individual, peer pressure, and the technological platforms that leverage them, revealing key dynamics of the connected society.
Their appeal lies in several intertwined factors. On the one hand, transgression has a clearly competitive and performative component: doing the forbidden or dangerous triggers and reaffirms the courage of those who dare. Likewise, these acts are trivialized within the playful logic of TikTok or the reels, in which what would otherwise be sanctioned is experienced as a game, unleashed by real consequences.
Participating in a viral challenge is also a way to reinforce group identity, to feel part of a community with shared codes, and the accessibility of the objects used—such as the bicycle, present in almost every home—greatly facilitates its dissemination. Furthermore, risking one's life, or putting the lives of others at risk, often has a reward: not only the admiration of friends, but also the attention of an infinite audience that transforms audacity into digital social capital. Capturing the attention of others is a compelling atavistic reason, which is why hearts, likes, and views are an inseparable part of the digital experience. Social validation also goes in the opposite direction: instead of favoring collaborative and respectful behavior, it thrives on extremism and outbursts.
And one final observation: the imaginary has changed. When we see absurd or dangerous behavior repeated in different places, we no longer interpret it as something isolated, but rather we often assume it may be part of a viral challenge that has gone unnoticed. However, the real challenge is to prevent these digital trends from becoming a danger to civility and collective life.
