A dangerous and reckless online trend has left a 15-year-old Utah girl in a coma, highlighting the perilous influence of social media on today’s youth. Ava Broadhead, a sophomore at Cyprus High School, suffered severe brain trauma after attempting the hazardous stunt known as “car surfing” last Wednesday night at Magna Regional Park.
The incident occurred after the school’s homecoming parade was canceled due to poor air quality. According to Unified Police Sgt. Aymee Race, Ava climbed on top of a moving vehicle in a misguided attempt to recreate a viral online stunt. “The victim was on top of that car, and as the car was driving around, the victim fell off,” said Race. “Unfortunately, pavement isn’t as forgiving, and the victim hit her head.”
This latest tragedy underscores the growing problem of dangerous online challenges that spread rapidly through social media platforms. **These trends often target impressionable teens**, encouraging reckless behavior in exchange for fleeting online attention and validation. Ava’s accident, while heartbreaking, is just the latest example of the destructive consequences these viral stunts can have.
Ava, an aspiring dancer who was excited to perform at her school’s homecoming football game, now lies in a medically induced coma, fighting for her life. Her injuries were so severe that she required emergency brain surgery, an operation her mother, Kandis Broadhead, described as “life or death.”
Before the accident, Ava was like any other high school sophomore—preparing for homecoming, picking out dresses, and enjoying time with friends. Now, instead of those cherished moments, her family faces an uncertain future filled with grueling recovery efforts.
“Ava will need to relearn basic skills like walking, talking, and even simple tasks like tying her shoes,” a family friend wrote on a GoFundMe page set up to help with medical expenses. “The road ahead is long and uncertain, but we are hopeful for her recovery.”
Ava’s tragic accident sheds light on the resurgence of “car surfing,” a dangerous activity where individuals attempt to stand or surf atop moving vehicles. While this reckless stunt first gained popularity in the 1980s, it has reemerged thanks to **the viral nature of social media, which glorifies risky behavior for likes and shares**. Although some platforms like TikTok have removed similar videos, others can still be found across the internet, tempting young users into harm’s way.
Sgt. Race emphasized the cyclical nature of these harmful trends. “Unfortunately, with social media, there’s ebbs and flows to these types of trends,” she said. “This one stems from the eighties, was big 10 years ago, and now here we are again, watching it pick up.”
Ava’s story is a stark reminder of the need for vigilance in an age where **young people are constantly exposed to risky and irresponsible online behavior**. While social media platforms have a responsibility to curb dangerous content, parents and communities must also step up and educate teens about the real-world consequences of these reckless actions.
Ava’s mother, Kandis, is now left to grapple with the fear of an uncertain future for her daughter. “I can’t imagine a future with Ava not being Ava,” she said. “It will take months, if not years, to recover from this.”
As Ava’s family waits and hopes for a miracle, her story should serve as a powerful warning about the **dangers of mindlessly following viral trends**. Young people must be reminded that no amount of likes or shares is worth risking their lives. Parents, meanwhile, must stay engaged and aware, talking to their children about the real dangers lurking in the seemingly harmless world of social media.
In Ava’s case, a momentary decision changed her life forever. Let her story serve as a call to action for families everywhere to remain vigilant in the digital age and protect their children from the dark side of social media’s influence.
