The Ice Bucket Challenge is back! Except this time, it’s for a different cause. The first time the challenge made its appearance back in 2014, it was for ALS. This time around, it’s for speaking out against mental health and donating to organizations like Active Minds.
Why the USC Ice Bucket Challenge?
You’ve definitely seen videos of people online dumping a bucket of ice water on themselves. Maybe you’ve even done it yourself! The USC Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge was started by students in the Mental Health Needs Discussion (MIND) Club at the University of South Carolina. On March 31, 2025 they posted a video dumping ice water on themselves and nominated 10 others to keep it going. Within a few weeks the challenge has been spread all over social media, even going overseas to Germany. In fact, Ms. Corcoran has done the challenge herself too!
The goal of the challenge was to raise $250,000 for Active Minds, the biggest nonprofit organization for mental health. Its goal is to decrease the stigma surrounding mental health among the youth. Currently, it has raised $418,186 and counting, which begs the question; why did this internet trend get so popular? People suspect that the people participating in the Ice Bucket Challenge this time around, were probably the kids who saw the first Ice Bucket Challenge, back in 2014. Now that they’ve grown up, they want to be a part of this experience while also supporting a good cause. Another thing is that many people who get nominated and do the challenge may let their younger siblings or parents help them with it. This way, even the family members who may not be as active on social media can still play a role. On top of that, this was probably one of the safer internet challenges, unlike the “Cinnamon Challenge” or “Tide Pod Challenge”.
Contradictions with the Challenge
As the challenge becomes more and more popular, many are questioning if it is actually being effective at what it claims to do. They say that the longer it goes on, the more performative it seems to get. People have also made comparisons with how much money these two Ice Bucket Challenges have made. In 2014, over $115 million for ALS. Compared to the $400,000 raised for mental health, it seems to have been a low drop. There have also been comments made that it would be more effective if it was a different type of challenge. The Ice Bucket Challenge was used in 2014 because it was an example of a symptom of ALS. For mental health, however, people see little correlation between the two. However, there have also been counter arguments made that any advocacy of mental health is good. Well, what do you think? Do you think the USC Speak Your Mind Challenge claims to do what it does? Would you do this challenge if you got nominated?
