A 12-year-old boy has lost his life after attempting a dangerous social media challenge known as the “blackout challenge”.
This heartbreaking incident has left his family and community in shock.
The “Blackout Challenge” – A Deadly Online Trend
The “blackout challenge” involves choking oneself, sometimes with a scarf, which deprives the brain of oxygen and can result in brain damage or death.
According to reports, at least 20 deaths have been linked to this challenge within 18 months, with 15 of the victims being 12 or younger.
A Life Cut Short
Sebastian, the 12-year-old boy, was a talented and kind-hearted individual who loved to play the guitar and keyboard.
He was full of dreams and passion, and his smile could light up a room. His parents did everything they could to give him a safe and happy childhood, but one brief moment changed everything.
A Warning to Parents
The organizer of the GoFundMe campaign, Agnieszka Czerniejewska, is urging parents to talk to their children about 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,” she wrote.
A Call for Awareness
This tragedy serves as a reminder to stay close to our loved ones and protect them from the dangers of the online world.
Sebastian’s death should be a wake-up call for all of us to be more vigilant and aware of the risks associated with social media challenges.
A Similar Lawsuit Against TikTok
This incident comes just months after the parents of four British teenagers filed a lawsuit in the U.S. against TikTok, alleging that their deaths occurred because of the blackout challenge.
The lawsuit claims that TikTok’s algorithm targeted these children with dangerous content to increase their engagement time on the platform and drive revenue.