A 12-year-old boy, simply identified as Sebastian, has lost his life after participating in the dangerous TikTok challenge known as the “blackout challenge.” A GoFundMe page has been set up shortly after the tragic incident. Agnieszka Czerniejewska, the fundraising organizer, wrote, “A dangerous internet challenge took his life.”
The blackout challenge, also known as the choking challenge, gained momentum in 2022. It quickly became a hot trend among teenage TikTok users. This dangerous challenge involves choking oneself, therefore depriving the brain of oxygen, which can lead to instant death or irreversible brain damage. According to The Independent, in 2022 alone, at least 20 deaths have been linked to the blackout challenge within 18 months. Among the victims, at least 15 individuals were 12 or younger.
The Yorkshire Live reported that on June 27, Friday, Sebastian lost his life in Castleford, England, according to the West Yorkshire Police.
The report by the authorities revealed, “Police were called by ambulance colleagues to an address in Manor Grove, Castleford, at 6:06 p.m. [ on June 27] following reports of concern for the safety of a child.”
“Officers attended the location and the boy was taken to hospital where it was later confirmed that he had died. Enquiries are ongoing on behalf of the West Yorkshire Coroner to establish exactly what happened.”
The police statement added, “The incident is not being treated as suspicious.”
The GoFundMe campaign explained how a loving boy fell victim to a social media challenge that wrecked his family forever. “Sebastian was only 12 years old. A boy full of dreams, passion, and incredible talent. He taught himself to play the guitar and keyboard, and he loved to draw. Always smiling, kind, and full of joy — everyone who met him was touched by his gentle spirit.”
“Sebastian lost his life because of an online challenge,” said Czerniejewska, who organized the GoFundMe campaign. “His parents gave him all the love and care in the world — but that one moment online changed everything.”
The campaign further stated, “He had loving parents who did everything they could to give him a safe and happy childhood. They would have given him the stars. Sadly, one brief moment changed everything.”
“What happened is a tragedy beyond words. No parent should ever have to bury their child. No one should ever endure such heartbreak.”
The campaign has so far raised more than $4,100 to support the bereaved family of the 12-year-old boy. The organizer is also encouraging parents to keep a check on their children on “what they do online.”
“Ask what they watch, who they talk to, what inspires them. Be present. Don’t assume: ‘My child would never do that.’ The online world can be as dangerous as the real one — sometimes even more so,” Czerniejewska wrote.
Ten-year-old Nylah Anderson died in 2021 after taking part in a “blackout” challenge, which went viral on TikTok. Now, her mother is suing the social media company.
The outcome of the case could expose social media platforms to a wave of legal challenges. https://t.co/uGWj4RZ6jf pic.twitter.com/JLdCCkWJ6W
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) August 29, 2024
Sebastian’s death comes mere months after four British families filed a lawsuit in February against TikTok in the United States, alleging that the blackout challenge took their children’s lives.
The Guardian reported that their parents claim Isaac Kenevan, 13, Archie Battersbee, 12, Julian “Jools” Sweeney, 14, and Maia Walsh, 13, all of whom died in 2022. fell victim to the choking challenge.
An attorney from the Social Media Victims Law Center stated at that time, “TikTok’s algorithm purposely targeted these children with dangerous content to increase their engagement time on the platform and drive revenue. It was a clear and deliberate business decision by TikTok that cost these four children their lives.”
Despite the controversy, TikTok previously claimed that hashtags and searches related to the challenge have been blocked since 2020. The company insists that it continues to work on prohibiting such dangerous content and removing them from the platform.
