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Resurfacing online ‘challenge’ linked to surge in lug nut incidents

Published: 9 February 2026

A surge of reports about loosened lug nuts on vehicles across Quebec has raised alarm among drivers and authorities, with some linking the dangerous trend to a resurfacing social mediamedia “lug nut challenge.” Emmanuelle Vaast, professor of information systems at 鶹ýվ’s Desautels Faculty of Management, warns that even minimally viral trends can become dangerous.

“Challenges make use of core features of social media: visibility, rapid circulation of content, and expression of approval or disapproval,” she explains. Vaast adds that because online content can persist and reemerge unexpectedly, even older challenges can quickly take hold again, amplifying risks far beyond the digital realm. 

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