#Challenge Accepted: Adolescents' Perception of Motivation Behind Social Media Challenges

Technological progress and the Internet's growing importance have made social media challenges common among adolescents. Despite their prevalence, research on this topic remains scarce. This study explores how adolescents perceive their peers' motivation for participating in social media challenges. Forty-three students in six focus groups participated. The results highlight themes such as the need for (self-)respect, the need for love and belonging, motives related to emotion regulation and sensation seeking, and the pursuit of online identity development. Adolescents emphasise popularity, fun, and peer pressure as key factors. Raising awareness about the impact of social media challenges on young people's daily lives among students, parents, and educators, is crucial.