It’s back and colder than ever. The Ice Bucket challenge from 2014 has made its return in 2025, but this time with a new motive. The “USC Speak Your Mind Challenge” is a rebranded version of the “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge,” but, somewhere between 2014 and 2025, the true meaning of the challenge was forgotten. 

     The “USC Speak Your Mind Challenge” was founded by students at the University of South Carolina who are a part of the Mental Illness Needs Discussion (MIND) club. Junior at USC and founder of MIND, Wade Jefferson, posted a video introducing the challenge as a way of spreading awareness about mental health issues and needs. 

     Within days, the challenge took off, as many were excited to see such a nostalgic and iconic challenge making its return. Videos of people dumping a bucket of ice water on their heads began flooding almost every person’s Instagram stories, but where was the talk about mental health? 

     Similar to the “USC Speak Your Mind Challenge,” the 2014 “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge” was created to raise awareness and funds for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The same issue occurred, as many failed to address the deeper meaning.

     However, there are some participants who understand the meaning behind the challenge, like senior Annabelle Ferguson. “I think it has a significant meaning to it and I appreciate that it’s about mental health because I think mental health is very important,” she said. 

     Others like freshman and challenge participant Hazel Needler said, “I didn’t even know what [the message behind the challenge] was until after I filmed the video.” 

     While both challenges were created to spread important messages and raise awareness about serious issues, the virality of the challenge took over, making it seem like just another trend. 

     Much like the original ice bucket challenge, many participants are focused on joining the fun rather than addressing the real issue that the challenge is meant to spread awareness about.

     This disconnect between participation and purpose caused many to question if any trends that are made to raise awareness are truly impacting the issue or just adding to the list of fun trends that’ll die out in a week.

     So, yes, the challenge went viral, but did the meaning go viral? No. The “USC Speak Your Mind Challenge” has a powerful message that most participants forgot about. The challenge became more of a fun trend rather than for the real purpose that it was originally intended to have. In order to truly make a difference regarding serious issues, people need to learn to understand the intensity of challenges that are meant for spreading awareness and not treat it like a trend solely made for entertainment.