TikTok "Blackout Challenge" Linked to Multiple Teen Deaths
The "Blackout Challenge" on TikTok involved deliberately cutting off oxygen supply to achieve a high, leading to multiple deaths of teenagers who participated in the deadly trend.
One of the most deadly social media trends, the TikTok "Blackout Challenge" (also called the Choking Challenge), led to multiple teen deaths in 2022-2024. Participants deliberately cut off their oxygen supply using belts, cords, or other means to achieve a euphoric feeling from oxygen deprivation. Many who attempted it alone lost consciousness and died from asphyxiation. In 2025, parents of four British teens who died filed lawsuits against TikTok, accusing the platform's algorithm of promoting the dangerous content to minors. The algorithm allegedly targeted users based on age and location to increase engagement, pushing potentially fatal challenges to vulnerable teens. TikTok admitted to blocking searches for the challenge since 2020, but critics say the content still spreads through the platform. The deaths sparked urgent conversations about social media responsibility, parental monitoring, and the dark side of viral trends. Emergency room visits related to such challenges increased by 18% according to medical reports.
That's Meth'd Up!
