TikTok Faces Lawsuit Over Deaths Linked to 'Blackout Challenge'

Families of four UK teenagers allege TikTok's algorithm promoted harmful content that contributed to their children's deaths.

The families of four British teenagers have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against TikTok and its parent company ByteDance in Delaware Superior Court.
The lawsuit claims the teens died in 2022 after attempting the 'Blackout Challenge,' a dangerous online trend involving self-strangulation.
The Social Media Victims Law Center, representing the families, accuses TikTok of using algorithms to target children with harmful content to boost engagement and revenue.
Parents have criticized TikTok for withholding access to their deceased children's accounts, prompting calls for legislation like 'Jools’ Law' to grant such access.
TikTok states it bans dangerous challenges and proactively removes harmful content, but families argue the platform failed to protect young users.