If you’ve been waiting to fill the huge hole in your life marked “viral challenge”, you’re in luck. There has been a new entry to the long list of time-wasting sensations taking the internet by storm. Forget planking, cinnamon eating, ice-bucket pouring, mannequin standing and bottle flipping: December 2017 is all about pretending to step on to an invisible box.

The invisible-box challenge got huge this week when a clip of a Texan high school cheerleader scored millions of views after it was posted on Saturday. In the six-second video, Ariel Olivar pats a phantom box with her hand, then puts her right foot on it before stepping over it. It’s basic mime, but it’s impressive enough to have inspired thousands of less agile challengers to share their own attempts (warning: you may fall on your face).

Of course, nothing is original online; Olivar is only the most successful proponent of the challenge. Dontez Hines, a college football player, did it in August – and there are older efforts than his. But a thing isn’t a thing until it’s a thing. In any case, Olivar should be congratulated for popularising a challenge that requires more physical activity than, say, submitting to an ice bucket – even if that did have a charitable aim.

How far will it go? Celebrities have been slow to take up the challenge. Will Phil and Holly giggle while trying it in the This Morning studio? Will Ellen have a bash?

I refused to be filmed, but I made my own attempt, in a locked room. I can report that it’s not as easy as Olivar makes it look. Managing to keep my upper foot high and still while lifting the other leg and transferring my bodyweight up and forwards requires core strength that I don’t have. I’m pretty sure my glutes were failing me, too, although it’s hard to say – it’s all over rather quickly. But if this challenge dries out on the vine of digital content and is succeeded by the “tripping on a kerb while drunk” mime test, I’ll be ready.