Recent reports have shed light on a disturbing trend sweeping across TikTok, known as the ‘blackout challenge’, which has allegedly claimed the lives of at least seven children under the age of 15. The challenge encourages participants to asphyxiate themselves until they lose consciousness using belts, purse strings, or similar items.
Backlash against TikTok has intensified as multiple lawsuits have been filed by grieving parents who hold the platform responsible for their children’s deaths. The lawsuits allege that youngsters died attempting the dangerous ‘blackout challenge’.
The most recent lawsuit was brought forth by the parents of Lalani Walton, eight, and Arriani Arroyo, nine. Tragically, these cases are not isolated incidents. Similar deaths have been reported globally, including a 10-year-old in Italy in January 2021, a 12-year-old in Colorado in March 2021, a 14-year-old in Australia in June 2021, a 12-year-old in Oklahoma in July 2021, and another 10-year-old in Pennsylvania reportedly in December 2021.
Among the grieving parents is Tawainna Anderson, mother of the Pennsylvania girl Nylah Anderson. Anderson is also suing TikTok, alleging that the platform promoted extremely hazardous challenges.
In some cases, it is alleged that children were not actively seeking out these challenges but were exposed to them on TikTok’s main screen, the For You page, thrusting the perilous content directly in front of them.
Responding to the outcry, a TikTok spokesperson asserted that the ‘blackout challenge’ did not originate on their platform and was not endorsed as a trend. They emphasized TikTok’s commitment to user safety, pledging to promptly remove any related content if discovered. The company expressed condolences to the families affected by these tragic losses.
Jade Simon
