The Tide POD Challenge emerged in late 2017 and early 2018 as a dark humor internet phenomenon centered around the aesthetic appeal of laundry detergent pods. Despite being highly toxic, the pods' bright blue and orange swirls led netizens to jokingly refer to them as the 'forbidden snack.' While the trend sparked significant controversy and health warnings due to dangerous real-life challenges, the meme evolution primarily focused on the absurdity of non-edible items looking delicious. Today, it remains a hallmark of Gen Z's surreal humor and the era of viral, high-risk internet stunts.