Netflix has been forced to issue a statement warning fans not to take part in a viral challenge based on their recent film, Bird Box.

Over the last couple of weeks, one of the most popular films on Netflix has been Bird Box. An adaptation of Josh Malerman’s 2014 novel of the same name, Bird Box was only released on December 21st, breaking the record for largest seven-day figures, with over 45 million watching it in its first week.

The film’s plot is rather unsettling though, with characters forced to avert their eyes from an array of invisible monsters, being overcome with an uncontrollable urge to kill themselves if they lay eyes upon them.

Some of the film’s most notable scenes involve Sandra Bullock leading her two children around while blindfolded, resulting in a similar viral challenge in the process.

Dubbed the#Birdboxchallenge, the challenge prompts people to don blindfolds and partake in a variety of tasks. Needless to say, posts shared on social media have become quite popular, with people often injuring themselves in the process.

https://twitter.com/RealFakeShanti/status/1079539194861629440

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However, the sheer amount of dangerous posts has seen Netflix feel compelled to get involved, issuing a statement against the challenge on Twitter earlier today.

“Can’t believe I have to say this, but: PLEASE DO NOT HURT YOURSELVES WITH THIS BIRD BOX CHALLENGE,” a spokesperson for the company explained.

“We don’t know how this started, and we appreciate the love, but Boy and Girl have just one wish for 2019 and it is that you not end up in the hospital due to memes.”

As a testament to the challenge’s difficulty, Sandra Bullock revealed just how hard it was to work while blindfolded, explaining she received lots of help during the film’s production.

“The second half of this film I was completely blind,” Bullock explained in a December interview with SAG Conversations.

“I had them make the blindfold but when I had the children I had them take out one layer, so I could see outlines of things because I would never want to put their lives at risk in the scene.”

“I worked with an expert who was not sighted, who literally told me how to see things with my ears.”

Check out the trailer for Netflix’s Bird Box:

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