The most dangerous challenge stormed TikTok and is surfacing over everyone's algorithm, causing a catastrophe on the internet. We all know that TikTok has gone from an innocent app with people singing and dancing to a dangerous one by having people join in on these dangerous trends, such as the teeth filing challenge or crate challenge. Although these are some perilous challenges, an even worse trend has begun to resurface that could top all the dangerous challenges. It is the blackout challenge.
The "blackout challenge" was among the riskiest trends on TikTok in 2021. Although the idea is not new, the challenge's resurrection is thought to be related to user deaths among children. Given that many families have lost their younger loved ones as a result of the challenge, many have theorized that it was created to entice the younger generation in order to trigger generational death. This has caused numerous parents to file lawsuits against TikTok for the influence of their children's deaths, which puts TikTok in a precarious position. A recent issue with a younger "Tiktoker" highlighted this.
The Deadly Resurgence
The fatalities kept happening. According to the New York Post, Milagros Soto, 12, died in Argentina in January 2023 after supposedly undertaking the challenge. According to Michigan Live, the family of 12-year-old Tristan Casson claims he passed away in Ohio a month earlier after attempting TikTok's "blackout" challenge. In contrast, 12-year-old Archie Battersby passed away in the UK in August after allegedly taking the challenge and spending months on life support.
Parents of younger teens have gathered up on TikTok to stop others from committing this horrible trend. Many have come to explain the horrible tragedies their kids have dealt with because of this so-called trend on TikTok. Parents find it difficult to monitor everything that appears on their children's screens. Many people, including the family of 9-year-old Arriani Arroyo, have been searching TikTok for solutions. The parents of young Arriani, who was discovered dead in February 2021 after taking the blackout challenge, are suing TikTok in an effort to protect future children and prevent a similar tragedy, according to the family's attorney. This trend has taken many lives to achieve a moment of fame by the younger generation this has caused a very enormous increase in children getting hurt.
Age of Dangerous TikTok Trends
Following an apparent "blackout challenge" attempt, Lauryn Keating discovered her 14-year-old son Leon Brown unconscious in their Scotland home a few weeks after Archie's passing; according to many different sources, these are only a few of the deaths that have happened because of this dangerous trend. This has caused TikTok to take major damage from the lawsuits the parents are suing them for.
Safeguarding Young Minds in the TikTok Era
In conclusion, because young brains are easily influenced by things that make others famous or just from popular or current things, TikTok trends have grown too harmful for the younger generation to be on without parental supervision. Due to the recent pandemic, social media has grown to have nothing more than a significant impact on this generation, who are so bored that they will do anything to pass the time. Parents should watch what they are allowing their children to view and how they are being affected to keep their children safe online. They should also always keep an eye on what they are doing.
Promoting Healthy Screen Time Habits
Additionally, setting clear boundaries and guidelines for screen time can be highly beneficial. Establishing rules about when and for how long children can use social media platforms can help strike a balance between online and offline activities. This approach promotes a healthy lifestyle and ensures children do not become overly dependent on virtual entertainment.
In this digital age, parental guidance and involvement in a child's online life are indispensable. By taking an active interest in their children's online experiences and offering guidance, parents can help mitigate the negative effects of platforms like TikTok and ensure their children's safety and well-being in the digital world.