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What Exactly Is The Charlie Charlie Challenge?

There’s a new meme called the “Charlie Charlie Challenge” that’s blowing up Twitter. So what is it, and why is it such a big deal?
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There’s a new Internet craze out there, and it’s giving a whole new meaning to the humble pencil. Also, the name Charlie.

“Charlie Charlie are you here…? Oh oh oh!” says SSundee in his YouTube video.

Dubbed the Charlie Charlie Challenge, the simple game only requires you to take two pencils and a piece of a paper with a Yes/No grid scribbled on it. (Video via YouTube / Carnage)

Then, you mutter “Charlie Charlie are you here…?” and the pencil will either point to yes or no. If it’s yes, it’s supposed to mean that some sort of Mexican demon is now in your presence. (Video via YouTube / MrClemmence)

“Charlie Charlie are you here…? Yooo oh my God oh my God,” says one of the guys in another YouTube video

Think of it like the Bloody Mary myth, except with millennials and Twitter. So when did Charlie Charlie come on the scene?

The folks over at Know Your Meme theorize the challenge may have come from this 2014 video, although the pencil mechanism is a little different and there is no paper.

Mic, however, found an even older video that seems like combination of the 2014 vid and what everyone’s doing now. 

So how’s the trick work, anyhow? Well,according to The Independent — it’s simply gravity and some awkward pencil positioning.

This video includes music from Kevin MacLeod / CC BY 3.0.