[An image of a woman getting splashed with water, Photo Credit to Pixabay]

The Ice Bucket Challenge, once a viral sensation that swept across social media in 2014, has come back in 2025 with a new purpose and energy. 

Originally, this trend was created to raise awareness and funds for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 

The Ice Bucket Challenge involved dumping a bucket of ice water over one’s head and posting it online. 

In 2014, participants were asked to donate money to ALS research and challenge others to do the same within 24 hours.

The movement rapidly spread worldwide, generating over $115 million for the ALS Association in just a few months. 

This challenge captured the attention of many celebrities, athletes, and political figures. 

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter featured many viral videos of people accepting the challenge. 

In numerous instances, people both donated and participated, making the campaign extremely effective.

The funds raised through this campaign helped support ALS research, treatment programs, and led to more discoveries of ALS-related genes.

The 2014 Ice Bucket challenge had a lasting impact on the ALS community by helping fund over 100 research projects, including the discovery of the NEK1 gene. 

Now in 2025, the Ice Bucket Challenge has returned and is trending across all digital platforms, particularly Instagram and TikTok. 

The format remains the same: participants dump ice water over their heads, post videos , and challenge others. 

However, the new 2025 version has adopted a new mission focused on mental health awareness. 

This recent trend was started at the University of South California (USC)'s mental health club. 

Instead of focusing on physical illnesses, the challenge now focuses on the silent struggles students face with anxiety, depression, and burnout. 

The trend soon started to go viral worldwide. 

“I’ve seen quite a bit of people doing it here on campus, just in the street or on the grass somewhere,” said Nate Berry, a sophomore computer science major at USC. 

According to reports, students at USC have begun sharing personal stories and messages about their mental health experiences before pouring the water. 

The new version of this challenge encourages participants to tag resources along with their posts to help others. 

Campus organizations are adding QR codes in videos that link to counseling centers and hotlines.

Many participants include messages of support, solidarity, and tips for dealing with stress.

The challenge has become a tool to not only raise awareness about mental health, but also to offer support.

Students across the world have said that even watching the videos can be comforting during stressful times.

In classrooms and on social media, students are increasingly discussing mental health openly, and many say the challenge gave them the courage to seek help or start conversations with friends.

Clubs at other universities besides the University of South California have also begun launching similar mental health initiatives.

In every video, there is a powerful reminder that no one is alone in their struggles.

The revival of the Ice Bucket Challenge proves that impactful ideas can evolve and grow.

This awareness campaign has shown that mental health deserves the same level of spotlight and support that physical health receives. 

From ALS to mental health, the Ice Bucket Challenge continues to make a difference.