This growing trend has been made popular with kids by YouTube stars like 26-year-old Jason Ethier, the creator of the channel ImJayStation. At the time of this writing, he has over 1.2 million subscribers.
Jason uploads videos in which he tries to experience paranormal activity on camera during the middle of the night. Jason says, "I make the challenges because I have always been interested in ghosts and spirits...what makes them scary is that when you are doing things to attract ghosts into your house — even if you don't believe in ghosts — it's always in your mind that it could be real."
Kids are now creating the videos as well. Ruby Coker, is an 11-year-old who posts scary, 3 a.m. videos on her YouTube channel, RubyRube. She has over 1.4 million subscribers.
This is influencing many children to film themselves trying to make paranormal contact at 3:00 a.m. Search engine data shows that the 3:00 a.m. challenge started spiking interest in May of 2017 and has been rapidly growing in popularity since August. The August increase is probably due to kids returning to school and talking about making the videos.
Parents and children's ministry leaders should be aware of this trend and guide kids away from it. While it is normal for kids to be curious about things that are "scary," this is a dangerous trend. Not only can it cause kids to have trouble falling asleep, it also elevates contact with the spirit world, which can open the door to the influence of the demonic. This trend falls in line with other spiritually dangerous games such as the Ouija Board.
We must help kids see that we are to avoid evil and pursue God and His righteousness instead. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.
