A dangerous game on TikTok can lead to the death of a child in a matter of minutes: advice for parents
During the war, Ukrainian children face not only physical threats, evacuation or loss of home, but also risks related to the digital environment. Social networks, in particular TikTok, are becoming a platform not only for entertainment and communication, but also for dangerous experiments that can have fatal consequences. One such trend is the popularization of the so-called “suffocation game,” which can kill a child in less than five minutes.
Recently, a dangerous game called Blackout, also known as “suffocation game” or “fainting challenge”, has spread on the TikTok platform. The essence of the so-called challenge is to block oxygen access to the brain in order to achieve short-term euphoria. Teenagers either strangle themselves or ask their friends to do it, often recording the process on camera and posting the video on TikTok. A huge role in the popularization of such challenges is played by the algorithms of the platform, which automatically promote “trendy” content, regardless of its safety. Such videos often collect millions of views, and children, trying to gain the approval of their peers or simply repeat the “popular trend”, get into deadly situations.
Behavior that may seem like a simple game from the outside can lead to irreversible consequences — including death or brain damage. According to international experts, without oxygen, a child’s brain can suffer critical damage in less than 5 minutes. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has already published a list of warning signs that may indicate that a child is participating in such a game. These include bleeding in the eyes, bruising on the neck, severe headaches, episodes of disorientation or loss of consciousness for no apparent reason. These symptoms should not be taken as a coincidence, but as a serious signal.
A tragic example was the death of a 12-year-old boy in Great Britain. He was found unconscious with a sheet around his neck. Despite the efforts of doctors to save him, the child died. The parents who lost their son associate the tragedy with the game Blackout. Now they publicly appeal to other families with a warning: the smartphone screen can hide not only entertainment, but a real threat to life. They also call on technology companies to take urgent action to control such content.
Other parents in different countries are also calling for change. According to them, social networks have no right to stand aside – algorithms that work automatically are actually promoting dangerous behavior patterns among a vulnerable age group. Police in Great Britain have already launched an investigation into the circumstances of the teenager’s death, including checking the browsing history on his phone.
Experts emphasize: tragedy can be avoided only if there is open communication in the family. Parents are advised not only to monitor their children’s digital behavior, but also to talk to them about the dangers of online trends, encourage critical thinking, and explain the risks. Cybersecurity experts also emphasize the importance of using parental controls and systematically monitoring the content a child has access to. In the conditions of war, when the danger often seems to be something external, it is especially important not to lose vigilance inside – in familiar gadgets, where, with one click, a deadly threat can be hidden.
How to protect a child from dangerous games on social networks: practical advice for parents
- Stay up to date with new trends
Check regularly what’s trending on TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels. You should not avoid this information — on the contrary, you should know what children see and repeat. This does not mean that you have to follow all platforms 24/7, but from time to time it is worth monitoring the most popular videos and challenges. - Check for changes in the child’s behavior
Sudden closedness, irritability, secretiveness, strange marks on the body (especially in the neck area), frequent headaches or disorientation – all these can indicate participation in dangerous experiments. Do not ignore the signals, even if they seem not serious to you. - Explain what hypoxia is and what its consequences are
Even if the child does not want to hear about the risks, briefly and calmly tell what happens to the brain without oxygen. No intimidation – only facts: how many minutes it takes to damage the brain, what the consequences can be after fainting, why it is dangerous even once. - Monitor the content of the child’s social networks
Check feed, viewing history, videos that the child saves or discusses with friends. Pay attention to subscriptions, trending challenges, and closed chats, if any. Do it not as a control, but as an observation – non-interfering but understanding. - Set up parental controls
Take advantage of the opportunities offered by the platforms themselves (like TikTok’s Family Pairing). They allow you to limit the search for certain content, manage screen time and receive activity notifications. - Involve your child in the discussion of risks
Discuss together news about dangerous challenges, real cases that have happened to others. Ask: “What do you think about this?”, “Why do children agree to such things?” to give the child the opportunity to formulate his own attitude to risk. - Do not punish for trust
If the child admitted that he saw or tried something dangerous, do not scold him. How you react determines whether she will approach you in the future. Explain that you appreciate her honesty, and together figure out how to avoid dangerous situations. - Stimulate critical thinking
Help your child question what he sees on social media. Ask: “Is it really safe?”, “Is every video worth believing?”, “Did the author think about what will happen to other children after watching it?”. This is not a lesson in morality, but training in the ability to think independently. - Explain how algorithms work
Even 9-10-year-olds can understand that TikTok promotes not “good” or “bad”, but simply “popular”. Explain that what millions see is not necessarily healthy or safe. Content is not automatically filtered, and it is also everyone’s responsibility. - Maintain lively communication and trust
Do not limit everything to rules and prohibitions. Joint walks, free time, open communication without moralizing help to form relationships in which the child is not afraid to speak.
