Sign in

TikTok’s ‘paper towel challenge’ is all about revealing hidden messages. Want to try?

Paper towel challenge involves people writing a message in a paper towel and then putting it on water-filled sink

Updated on: Mar 10, 2020, 17:20:19 IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
Copy link
  • copy link
Many people are trying TikTok’s paper towel challenge. (TikTok/@jonklaasen)
Many people are trying TikTok’s paper towel challenge. (TikTok/@jonklaasen)

Highlights

Paper towel challenge is the latest TikTok trend

Unlike a few previous trends, it’s completely safe

Several people are taking part in the challenge and sharing videos

TikTok has again dished out a new challenge which has taken over the platform. This time, thankfully, it’s a safe and easy trend that doesn’t end with people causing fires or landing to hospitals. The viral trend is called paper towel challenge.

It involves people writing messages on paper towels and putting them in water. It’s when the towels get wet the secret messages are revealed – and most of them are absolutely hilarious.

Here’s a video which shows how the challenge is done:

@jonklaasen

It’s just a prank babe 😅🥺 @elyssajoy_ ##couplegoals ##couple ##prank ##trend

♬ Originalton - qwestar

If you want to try it then all you need is a paper towel and a marker. Fold the towel in half and write a message on the front. Then pen down the secret message inside the fold. Now when you put it in water the towel gets wet and bam, the secret note gets revealed.

Here’s a clip showing a grandmother hilariously trolling her grandson:

A user took the challenge to send a cautionary message about online dating:

This playful exchange between a brother and his sister is relatable for many:

@nathantriska

the best day of my life 😭

♬ Originalton - qwestar

Someone went a step further to drop a Pikachu-related secret message, and it’s amazing:

When someone tried the challenge but couldn’t do it due to this reason:

Will you take part in the paper towel challenge?

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta is a Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of digital newsroom experience. Specialising in high-engagement storytelling, she blends viral trends with traditional journalism to cover the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. Her reporting spans real estate and personal finance struggles in hubs like Bengaluru and Gurgaon, the NRI experience, and corporate shifts like tech layoffs. Trisha also frequently tracks global figures and writes human interest stories. Offline, Trisha is an avid reader, history enthusiast and solo traveler. She balances her journalism career with family life while actively integrating AI tools into her modern storytelling approach.Read More