I tested Viral TikTok Life Hacks - are they a SCAM!?
Science & Technology
Introduction
In today’s experiment, I put 15 of the most viral life hacks from TikTok to the test in a quest to discover their authenticity. If more than half of these hacks work, I promised to shave a TikTok logo into my head. Let’s see how many of these potentially ridiculous hacks actually hold up!
Life Hack 15: Using a Nut and Bolt as a Button Replacement
The first hack suggests that if you lose the button on your jeans, you can use a nut and bolt as a replacement. After screwing it into place, surprisingly, it held up well. However, the practicality of this solution for those urgent bathroom situations is questionable!
Life Hack 14: Tea Bag Rocket
Next, I tried the tea bag rocket hack. By lighting a tea bag, it’s supposed to fly like a rocket. After a bit of tinkering, it worked perfectly, earning TikTok a point and my hair a potential future regret.
Life Hack 13: Coke Becomes Transparent with Vitamin C
The third hack claimed that adding vitamin C to a bottle of Coke would make it transparent. However, upon testing, it turned out to be a dangerous scam. The apparent transformation was due to swapping Coke with an iodine solution off-camera, which has toxic properties when mixed with high doses of vitamin C.
Life Hack 12: Orange and Balloon Hack
The next hack involved squeezing an orange to pop a balloon. When I squeezed the orange, it did pop the balloon! The conclusion is that it’s actually the peel’s limonene that dissolves latex, not the juice itself.
Life Hack 11: AA to AAA Battery Swap
A popular hack suggests using a AAA battery in place of a AA one by adding some foil. I tested it with my remote control, and to my surprise, it worked!
Life Hack 10: Ice Cube in Boiling Pasta
This hack involves adding ice cubes to boiling pasta to prevent it from overflowing. The concept checks out as ice lowers the water temperature effectively.
Life Hack 9: Writing on Noodles with a Sharpie
One unusual hack claimed you could write on noodles with a Sharpie. After testing, it didn’t have the desired result, ruling this hack out.
Life Hack 8: Lighting a Bulb with Static Electricity
Next, I attempted to power a light bulb with static electricity generated by rubbing my socks. Spoiler alert: it didn’t work.
Life Hack 7: Hidden Items in iPhone Packaging
I investigated a supposed hidden section in iPhone boxes containing extra accessories. However, it was only a ruse, reinforcing that Apple typically removes items rather than adds them.
Life Hack 6: Spaghetti Macaroni Launcher
I tested a hack that claimed you could create a basic launcher with macaroni and spaghetti. It was surprisingly satisfying to see the macaroni break into tiny pieces!
Life Hack 5: Toothpaste Lid Tap Trick
Next was the toothpaste lid making a tap function like a hose. It did not work well in practice, and I wouldn’t recommend this hack.
Life Hack 4: Reverse Stirring Sugar in Tea
The idea that stirring sugar backwards can remove it is completely false. This hack just loops back to original footage played in reverse.
Life Hack 3: Generating a Story with AI
One hack touted the ability to create stories with AI. Upon testing the “shortly.ai” website, it surprisingly generated coherent and contextually relevant content, granting a point to TikTok yet again.
Life Hack 2: Making a Spiralizer from a Can
Finally, I followed a hack that involved creating a spiralizer from a soda can. The result was an imperfect spiral, but it worked to some extent.
Conclusion
Out of 15 life hacks tested, around 9 were successful. This means that, per my initial promise, I must now shave a TikTok logo onto my head! While some hacks delivered on their promises, others were outright scams and should be avoided.
Keyword
- Viral
- TikTok
- Life Hacks
- Scam
- Experiment
- Success
- Fail
FAQ
Q1: Did any of the TikTok life hacks not work?
A1: Yes, several hacks turned out to be scams or did not produce the expected results, particularly the vitamin C in Coke and the reverse stirring sugar hack.
Q2: Which life hack was the most successful?
A2: The tea bag rocket hack and the nut and bolt button replacement were both surprisingly successful.
Q3: What was the purpose of testing these hacks?
A3: The purpose was to identify whether these viral hacks from TikTok were effective or misleading, and I made a promise regarding the results of the tests.
Q4: Should I try these hacks at home?
A4: Caution is advised; some hacks can be dangerous or impractical, so it's best to thoroughly evaluate their safety before attempting them.
