What is the Charlie Charlie Challenge? Just Gullible Teens and Viral Marketing

By Genevieve Burgess | Miscellaneous | May 30, 2015 |

By Genevieve Burgess | Miscellaneous | May 30, 2015 |

The Charlie Charlie Challenge is one of those things that seems to pertain entirely to a specific subset of teenagers. I’ve seen a reference or two to it float across various internet outlets but hadn’t paid much attention. I even just checked with my 19 year old sister and she had no idea what it was either. The answer, as outlined in this Washington Post story, is a kind of Ouija-lite game involving yes or no answers and two pencils. It has its origins in Spain, probably, but has gotten really popular over the last couple weeks. It looks like it basically works on gravity, or gentle air currents.

As with any internet craze that “the kids” are all about, several media outlets have covered this in completely predictable ways: MTV put a list of videos featuring the challenge, a Christian website warns against teens summoning demons, the usual sort of thing.

Mostly, though, it looks like it might have been revived as a marketing stunt for the movie The Gallows which is scheduled to come out on July 10th and features a vengeful ghost conveniently named Charlie.

I’d make more fun of the kids if it weren’t for those memories of my friends and I trying to play “light as a feather, stiff as a board” after watching The Craft. Teens! Just as gullible as ever!