NIGERIA: Hypo Warns Against Dangerous Social Media Trend

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria

Hypo bleach has warned Nigerians against consuming its content, following a viral online controversy involving social media personalities King Mitchy and VeryDarkMan.

In a statement released on Sunday, the company stressed that its product is strictly meant for cleaning purposes and should never be ingested under any circumstances.

The company said recent videos and AI-generated images circulating online falsely portrayed Hypo as a beverage, describing the trend as dangerous and misleading.

Marketing Manager, Adebayo Adeyemo, said the product was formulated for removing stains, whitening fabrics, deodorising surfaces and killing germs, not for consumption.

He said: “Hypo Bleach is formulated to remove stains and kill germs. It is not a drink and must never be consumed.”

The company warned that encouraging harmful acts for social media engagement places lives at risk and called on influencers and content creators to exercise responsibility in their online engagements.

Adeyemo said: “Anyone encouraging others to consume Hypo, even as a joke or for views, is putting lives at risk.”

Hypo also advised young Nigerians not to succumb to online pressure or dangerous trends, urging individuals facing emotional distress to seek help from trusted adults or healthcare professionals.

The warning follows a heated online dispute between King Mitchy and VeryDarkMan, which escalated after viral videos appeared to show the consumption of substances alleged to be bleach, sparking panic across social media platforms.

Concerned Nigerians have since called for stricter regulation of harmful online content, citing the growing influence of digital creators o

n younger audiences.