A 12-year-old boy has died with a GoFundMe set up by a loved one saying his death was a result of participating in the social media challenge known as the ‘blackout challenge’.
The boy died on Friday
According to the local outlet Yorkshire Live, the West Yorkshire Police announced that the 12-year-old boy died in Castleford, England on Friday, June 27.
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A police statement to the outlet said, “Police were called by ambulance colleagues to an address in Manor Grove, Castleford, at 6:06 p.m. [on June 27] following reports of concern for the safety of a child.”
He was taken to hospital before his death was confirmed
“Officers attended the location and the boy was taken to hospital where it was later confirmed that he had died. Enquiries are ongoing on behalf of the West Yorkshire Coroner to establish exactly what happened,” the statement went on.
“The incident is not being treated as suspicious.”
A GoFundMe campaign was launched for him
After the incident, a GoFundMe fundraiser campaign was launched. Its organizer Agnieszka Czerniejewska only identified the boy as Sebastian.
On the boy’s death, the organizer wrote that “a dangerous internet challenge took his life.”
She said the reason he died was the blackout challenge
“Sebastian lost his life because of an online challenge,” Czerniejewska went on. She specifically referred to the blackout challenge before mentioning the boy’s family.
“His parents gave him all the love and care in the world — but that one moment online changed everything.”
What is the blackout challenge?
The blackout challenge is a TikTok challenge that involves choking oneself, which deprives the brain of oxygen and can cause brain damage or death.
In 2022, The Independent reported that at least 20 deaths had been linked to the challenge within 18 months. Fifteen of the victims were 12 years old or younger.
The boy’s loved ones recalled his passion
The GoFundMe read, “Sebastian was only 12 years old. A boy full of dreams, passion, and incredible talent. He taught himself to play the guitar and keyboard, and he loved to draw. Always smiling, kind, and full of joy — everyone who met him was touched by his gentle spirit.”
They encouraged parents to talk more to their kids
“What happened is a tragedy beyond words. No parent should ever have to bury their child. No one should ever endure such heartbreak,” the campaign read.
Czerniejewska also encouraged parents to “talk to your children about what they do online.”
They wanted parents to remain cautious
“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.”
This comes after people filed a suit against TikTok
The boy’s death comes after four British families filed a lawsuit in the US against TikTok alleging that the deaths of their children occurred because of the blackout challenge, according to The Guardian.
At the time, an attorney from the Social Media Victims Law Center said, “TikTok’s algorithm purposely targeted these children with dangerous content to increase their engagement time on the platform and drive revenue.”
“It was a clear and deliberate business decision by TikTok that cost these four children their lives.”
