Horrifying warning issued as magnetic toy trend surges among Gen Z

Doctors have issued a warning to parents and social media users after a magnetic toy trend has been surging online.

A viral social media trend has seen teens placing tiny magnets on their tongues to imitate facial piercings.

Now, a new study by the University of Southampton has highlighted the risks, explaining that around 300 children every year are admitted to A&E after swallowing a magnet, with one in 10 needing life-saving treatment.

Swallowing magnets can be incredibly dangerous due to the damage they can cause to a person's digestive system.

Back in 2021, the NHS issued a warning after at least 65 children had been admitted for urgent surgery after swallowing magnets in the three years prior.

They explained: "The magnetic objects are forced together in the intestines or bowels, squeezing the tissue so that the blood supply is cut off. Ingesting more than one can be life-threatening and cause significant damage within hours."

Magnets can be extremely dangerous if ingested (Getty Stock Photo)

The recent study, which comprised of data collected between May 2022 and April 2023 from 66 UK hospitals, found that 6 per cent of those cases were from children - primarily young girls - using two magnetic balls to imitate a tongue piercing.

Lead author and professor of paediatric surgery, Nigel Hall, explained how retailers must do more to increase awareness of the potential dangers associated with magnets.

"Having an unplanned emergency operation is a traumatic experience for any child and their family," he said. "Most children who have swallowed a magnet do not show any symptoms, so it is really important that all cases have an X-ray to find out for certain."

The tiny magnetic balls are considerably stronger than some magnets and can be easily swallowed due to their size.

Katrina Phillips, chief executive of the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT), explained why the magnets can be so dangerous.

The tiny magnets are particularly strong (Getty Stock Photo)

She said: "These super strong magnets can rip through a child's guts and leave them with life-changing injuries. One boy has died.

"Take a moment to check who you're buying from. Don't assume that, just because you can buy something, it must be safe."

In 2021, Professor Simon Kenny, a paediatric surgeon and national clinical director for children and young people at NHS England, said that while magnets 'can look like a cheap and cheerful way of occupying the kids', they can pose several potential risks.

"There is nothing fun for children or their parents about surgery to remove magnets that have been swallowed and become stuck together through different parts of the intestines, or the long-term physical problems and internal scarring that can be left behind," he said.

"I would urge parents to be aware of the dangers associated with magnetic toys but ultimately, the only way we can prevent future incidents is to stop these items being sold altogether."