By — Andrew Mach Andrew Mach Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/twizzler-challenge-autism-webs-new-viral-fundraiser Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Is the ‘Twizzler Challenge’ for autism the web’s new viral fundraiser? Nation Mar 22, 2015 12:10 PM EDT I hear ya. Ever since the dumping-ice-water-on-your-head fundraising stopped being a thing, your Facebook feed has felt just a little bit dull. But as Spring decides to take its own Ice Bucket Challenge again and again in the Northeast, the internet is moving on to a new cause. And this one’s inspired by two animated dogs. Enter the so-called “Twizzler Challenge.” It’s where two willing participants chow down on the same piece of licorice Lady and the Tramp-style. On camera. And then challenge their friends who have 24 hours to do the same or donate to the worthy cause. You guys are up! @KathieLGifford, @MLauer, @whitbisch, @C_Soules, @KitHoover, @billybush #twizzlerchallenge pic.twitter.com/wh2upFDmhy — Meredith Vieira Show (@MeredithShow) March 12, 2015 Those who partake in the challenge or donate benefit New York Collaborates for Autism, which funds and creates schools, programs and services for people with autism nationwide. You can trace the origin of this challenge to Comedy Central’s “Night of Too Many Stars: America Comes Together for Autism Programs,” when a viewer challenged “Today’s” Willie Geist to take the Twizzler Challenge with Uzo Aduba of “Orange is the New Black,” and the two obliged. Since then, it’s mainly been television personalities and actors who’ve decided to publicly participate, but it likely won’t be long until the innocuous challenge branches out and penetrates the mainstream. (Part 1) Here I am with @lenadunham taking the #TwizzlerChallenge ❤️ Pass it on! Twizzlerchallengeforautism.org #NightOfTooManyStars #NYC4A A video posted by Allison Williams (@aw) on Mar 18, 2015 at 9:53am PDT Although the #TwizzlerChallenge seems to eschew the pain risk of its frigid predecessor, the new challenge pushes the door wide open for close encounters of the awkward kind. (Looking at you, Lauer.) Still, if its impact mirrors the social media success of the Ice Bucket Challenge, which raised $100 million for the ALS Association in only one month, look out for it to become the next meme of the season. What else are you going to do during those March Madness commercial breaks? We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Andrew Mach Andrew Mach Andrew Mach is a former Digital Editor for PBS NewsHour in New York City, where he manages the online editorial direction of the national broadcast's weekend edition. Formerly, Mach was a news editor and staff writer for NBC News. He's also written for the Christian Science Monitor in Boston and had stints at ABC News, the Washington Post and German network ZDF in Berlin, in addition to reporting for an investigative journalism project in Phoenix. Mach was a recipient of the 2016 Kiplinger Fellowship, the 2015 RIAS German/American Exchange fellowship by the Radio Television Digital News Foundation and the 2012 Berlin Capital Program Fulbright. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is a native of Aberdeen, South Dakota. @andrewjmach
I hear ya. Ever since the dumping-ice-water-on-your-head fundraising stopped being a thing, your Facebook feed has felt just a little bit dull. But as Spring decides to take its own Ice Bucket Challenge again and again in the Northeast, the internet is moving on to a new cause. And this one’s inspired by two animated dogs. Enter the so-called “Twizzler Challenge.” It’s where two willing participants chow down on the same piece of licorice Lady and the Tramp-style. On camera. And then challenge their friends who have 24 hours to do the same or donate to the worthy cause. You guys are up! @KathieLGifford, @MLauer, @whitbisch, @C_Soules, @KitHoover, @billybush #twizzlerchallenge pic.twitter.com/wh2upFDmhy — Meredith Vieira Show (@MeredithShow) March 12, 2015 Those who partake in the challenge or donate benefit New York Collaborates for Autism, which funds and creates schools, programs and services for people with autism nationwide. You can trace the origin of this challenge to Comedy Central’s “Night of Too Many Stars: America Comes Together for Autism Programs,” when a viewer challenged “Today’s” Willie Geist to take the Twizzler Challenge with Uzo Aduba of “Orange is the New Black,” and the two obliged. Since then, it’s mainly been television personalities and actors who’ve decided to publicly participate, but it likely won’t be long until the innocuous challenge branches out and penetrates the mainstream. (Part 1) Here I am with @lenadunham taking the #TwizzlerChallenge ❤️ Pass it on! Twizzlerchallengeforautism.org #NightOfTooManyStars #NYC4A A video posted by Allison Williams (@aw) on Mar 18, 2015 at 9:53am PDT Although the #TwizzlerChallenge seems to eschew the pain risk of its frigid predecessor, the new challenge pushes the door wide open for close encounters of the awkward kind. (Looking at you, Lauer.) Still, if its impact mirrors the social media success of the Ice Bucket Challenge, which raised $100 million for the ALS Association in only one month, look out for it to become the next meme of the season. What else are you going to do during those March Madness commercial breaks? We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now