Parents in Wisconsin, Texas sue TikTok after children die during ‘Blackout Challenge’

The families of 8-year-old Lalani of Texas, and 9-year-old Arriani Wisconsin, in partnership with Social Media Victims Law Center (SMVLC), which works to hold social media companies legally accountable for the harm they inflict on vulnerable users, filed the lawsuit in a California court.

They both died participating in a deadly TikTok challenge, which encourages users to choke themselves with belts, purse strings or other similar items until passing out.” according to their parents in Texas and Wisconsin.

The suit claims TikTok directing children to harmful content and that it failed to take significant action to stop those videos or to warn children and parents about them.

The lawsuit claims TikTok knows many of its users are under 13, and that it markets to people under 13, despite user terms purporting to limit the app’s use to those 13 and older.

Internet challenges have been a growing source of panic for both parents and doctors alike who are concerned that it can potentially cause serious injury.