By skyforbes 
In February 2025, a heartbreaking case emerged in the UK that has shaken both parents and policymakers: several families of British teenagers are suing TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance. Their claim? That TikTok promoted and amplified the deadly “blackout challenge,” a trend that has taken the lives of their children.
This lawsuit is not just about one app or one challenge. It’s about accountability, online safety, and how far social media companies must go to protect vulnerable young users.
What Is the “Blackout Challenge”?
The so-called “blackout challenge” is an online trend where participants choke themselves until they pass out, often recording it to post online. Doctors and child-safety advocates have long warned about its dangers, but tragically, its viral nature on TikTok has made it accessible to millions of young users.
While choking games aren’t new, TikTok’s algorithm is being accused of fueling the spread of this trend by pushing these videos into children’s feeds, keeping them engaged without fully realizing the risks.
The Families’ Claims
The families suing TikTok argue that the app’s recommendation system actively promoted blackout challenge videos to their children…