The “blackout challenge,” which was a risky TikTok craze that emerged in 2021, had at least been around since 2008.
The parents of two young girls who perished after participating in a trending “blackout challenge” in 2021 have filed a lawsuit against TikTok, a video social media website, in the United States.
Plus, the families of Arriani Jaileen Arroyo, 9, and Lalani Erika Walton, 8, have accused TikTok of “deliberately” exposing the kids to violent videos.
But, what exactly is the “Blackout challenge,” and who initiated it?
Who Started “The Blackout Challenge” On Tiktok?
According to People, the “blackout challenge” has been functional since at least 2008, although TikTok users only started seeing it again in 2021.
Similarly, the tendency has been discouraged among young users, as the CDC reports it has previously caused more than 80 deaths.
In this challenge, participants are urged to choke themselves until they pass out from a lack of air. Who began the viral trend is a mystery.
Nevertheless, The New York Times article states that the challenge gained significant media attention after three young children died in Italy in January 2021 while attempting the blackout challenge. It further cited the source as Know Your Meme website.
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TikTok Is Being Sued By Parents For Following A Dangerous Trend
According to Insider, two additional lawsuits have been filed in July regarding the deaths of Arriani Jaileen Arroyo, 9, and Lalani Erika Walton, 8.
Besides, the cases, which allege wrongful death and include the TikTok challenge, were submitted to the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
After attempting the challenges, both kids were found hanging after choking to death. (Lalani’s phone and tablet were inspected by the police, who discovered she had been viewing blackout challenge videos.)
Similarly, the Social Media Victims Law Center has filed a complaint against TikTok over the Blackout Challenge. It claims that the app “unquestionably knew” that the challenge was going viral all over their app.
Plus, TikTok has denied any connection to the challenge, which began as “the choking game” before the app.
The Washington Post reports, TikTok has disabled the #BlackoutChallenge from appearing in its search results.
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What Is The Blackout Challenge About?
The “blackout challenge,” also known as the “choking challenge” or the “pass-out challenge,” exhorts participants to hold their breath until they become unconscious from a lack of oxygen, according to People.
Dr. Nick Flynn explained that “What is truly happening in the brain is a lack of oxygen akin to when someone is drowning, suffocating, or suffering a cardiac arrest.”
“Brain damage can occur if there is low oxygen to the brain for longer than three minutes, and death can occur if there is low oxygen to the brain for longer than five minutes.”
Unfortunately, Nylah, Lalani, and Arriani are not the only kids to perish while trying this challenge.
The Washington Post further states that Nylah’s complaint mentions four additional youngsters under the age of 14 who also perished while attempting to imitate the films.