“Suffocation Game” and Its Deadly Risks: How Social Media Threatens the Lives of Ukrainian Children
In the conditions of war, children in Ukraine face dangers that are hard to imagine. Constant shelling, forced migration, separation from relatives — all this creates an environment in which the child’s psyche becomes extremely vulnerable. However, one war in the real world is not enough: another front is opening on the Internet. Social networks, which have become an integral part of teenagers’ lives, are increasingly becoming a source of deadly threats.
Teenagers, risks and social networks
One such risk is a new deadly “suffocation game” that is actively spreading on the Internet. As informs Medical Xpress, this game has already claimed the lives of 82 children. Its essence consists in limiting the access of oxygen to the brain, which supposedly gives a feeling of euphoria.
The exact number of deaths among teenagers due to this “game” is difficult to determine. There is a lack of relevant data: public health databases do not always record such cases, and some deaths are mistakenly classified as suicides. A 2008 report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 82 children died playing the “choking game” over a 12-year period. 87% of them were boys, most played alone, and the average age was just over 13 years old. New up-to-date statistics are necessary to assess the current scale of the problem.
In fact, this is a dangerous practice that can lead to unconsciousness, serious brain damage, or even death. The terrifying thing is that according to research, one in ten teenagers in the US has already tried to strangle themselves after being influenced by popular videos on social networks such as Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Twitter.
Unfortunately, Ukraine is also becoming a victim of this phenomenon. The war has made access to the Internet almost the only way of communication and entertainment for many children, but new dangers await them in this space. Vulnerable to stress and traumatic experiences, children are easy targets for toxic content.
Dangerous games shared through social media carry deadly risks for teenagers, including the possibility of suffocation to achieve a euphoric state. Although it sounds creepy, it is estimated that about 10% of teenagers in the US have participated in such “games” at least once.
This is not the only danger: “Skullbreaker Challenge”, swallowing detergent capsules (Tide Pod Challenge) and “car surfing” are just some of the deadly “entertainment” popular on Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and other social networks. Many of these “games” have a decade-old history, but now they are coming back with a new force.
The consequences of such “games” can be fatal. For example, the “skull test” involves two people knocking out the legs of a third person, resulting in a dangerous fall and potentially serious injury. Swallowing detergent capsules causes suffocation and serious poisoning. And a fall while riding on the roof of a car can end in severe brain injuries.
It should be noted that risky behavior is part of the natural development of adolescents. But modern realities complicate this dynamic. The adolescent brain is in a stage of intense development, especially in the parts responsible for decision-making and emotion regulation. During this period, hormonal changes increase the desire for reward and social approval.
Social media, powered by algorithms that amplify emotionally charged content, create the perfect environment for such dangerous games to spread. Teenagers willingly share videos that cause shock or sensation without thinking about the consequences. As a result, the average amount of time young people spend on social media (more than 5 hours per day) only increases their vulnerability to such influences.
How to protect children
Monitoring the activity of teenagers in social networks remains a difficult task. However, parents can look out for warning signs such as unexplained marks on the neck, red eyes or frequent headaches. Social networks such as YouTube often respond to community complaints by removing dangerous content, and this can be the first step towards solving the problem.
At the same time, children should be encouraged to take “healthy risks”, for example, participation in sports or social activities. It helps teenagers develop risk management skills, build resilience and avoid really dangerous behaviour.
Schools, government agencies and technology companies must also join the fight against this problem. Educational campaigns, modern psychological programs and improvements to algorithms of social platforms to block dangerous content should become part of a systemic approach to the protection of adolescents.
The most important thing is to build a trusting relationship between parents and children. Discussing the risks and challenges of the digital world together can help create conditions where teenagers can not only avoid dangers, but also learn to make informed and safe choices in their lives.
How to deal with this problem? First of all, it is necessary to introduce active monitoring of content in social networks. The state should ensure cooperation with international platforms to remove dangerous videos and block their distribution. In addition, it is important that parents and schools are aware of these threats. It is necessary to carry out a systematic information campaign, explaining to children the risks and consequences of participating in such “games”.
Psychologists and social workers play an important role. Children who are under stressful conditions need extra attention to avoid looking for a “way out” in such dangerous practices. Regular conversations, counseling and education about safe internet use can reduce the risk.
Social networks also need to take responsibility. Their algorithms must be configured to detect and block content that poses a threat to life and health. This should become part of their corporate policy.
Deadly games are only the tip of the iceberg of problems affecting children on the Internet. Cyberbullying, blackmail, fraud schemes — all these phenomena require increased attention from society. But the human factor remains the most important: caring for children, communicating with them and building trusting relationships can be the best protection against any danger.
