There's a new internet challenge sweeping TikTok and Instagram called the "USC Speak Your Mind Challenge." It's officially brought back the viral "Ice Bucket Challenge" from 2014.

Participants are dumping buckets of icy water on themselves, all in the name of mental health awareness. The phenomenon ultimately circles back to a fundraiser orchestrated by students at the University of South Carolina (USC).

So, when did this challenge start? Who created it at USC and why? Let's explain.

Who Started The 'USC Speak Your Mind Challenge?'

The "Speak Your Mind" challenge was created by students at the University of South Carolina (USC) who are part of the school's Mental Illness Needs Discussion club (MIND). The students posted an Instagram Reel on their account @uscmind in which they outlined what the challenge was all about.

The club focuses on mental health awareness, trying to elevate the discussions surrounding the issue to the level that physical health is discussed.

The club members urged others to use the hashtag "#SpeakYourMIND" to post videos of themselves getting drenched by a bucket of ice water. They were supposed to nominate their friends and family to spread the challenge across the country.

What Is The 'Ice Bucket Challenge?'

This recent USC challenge is borrowing its format from a 2014 trend called the "Ice Bucket Challenge." It was created to raise awareness for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

People nominated each other to complete the challenge, and if they failed to pour the icy water on themselves, they were expected to donate to an ALS fundraiser.

Back then, the trend attracted nationwide coverage as notable celebrities and influencers joined in. Among them included LeBron James, Mark Zuckerberg and Oprah Winfrey, just to name a few.

How Is The 'USC Speak Your Mind Challenge' Spreading Online?

Videos of people doing the challenge are spreading fast on platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Mostly college kids and teenagers are participating, likely because they were too young to remember the original challenge.

Also, it seems that this "USC Speak Your Mind Challenge" is generating viral memes, mostly shared by people humorously complaining about being nominated.

"Me after getting nominated by my friends for the USC Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge but it's too cold to be getting cold water poured on me," wrote one TikToker in their viral video.

It really feels like the internet has been transported back to 2014, possibly proving, more than other phenomena, that the "Long 2014" theory might be true after all.

@jade.breanna_ Like helloooo its 40 degrees outside #icebucketchallenge #usc #challenge #relateable #relate #bruh ♬ orijinal ses – queenbthe2nd

@_e3ric #usc #icebucketchallenge #uscspeakyourmind #fyp #viral ♬ original sound – 🧸

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For the full history of the USC Speak Your Mind Challenge, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.