Origin and spread
The concept of choking games has existed from before the popularization of social media. [5] A 2008 CDC report identified 82 "probable choking-game deaths" between young people aged 6 to 19 between 1995 and 2007. [6] No further study or investigation appears to have followed this report.
The name "Blackout Challenge" appears to have originated in January 2021 via Italian media articles following the death of a 10-year-old girl in Palermo, Italy. Earlier English-language versions of the game were typically referred to as "pass-out game", "fainting game or "choking game". In response to this 2021 incident, TikTok denied the existence of the challenge by saying “While we have not currently found evidence of content on our platform that might have encouraged such an incident off-platform, we will continue to monitor closely as part of our continuous commitment to keep our community safe. We will also assist the relevant authorities with their investigation as appropriate.” [7]
Similar challenges
Time magazine reported in 2018 that social media platforms made information about the concept more widespread, leading more children to attempt it alone rather than with others. [3] [8] In 2019, alleged internet challenges that involved self-harm, such as the "Momo" and "Blue Whale" challenges, created widespread coverage online for allegedly encouraging children to attempt suicide. [9] [10] The Atlantic reported that both were ultimately hoaxes that used local news reporting and concerned online posts to spread the challenges, which never became prevalent online. [11]
Impact and lawsuits
The Washington Post reported that TikTok chose to block search results for the challenge and related terms, instead presenting a warning message. [12] According to an article by Bloomberg, the challenge is claimed to have resulted in the deaths of between fifteen and twenty children., [1] [4] though independent verification of its presence on TikTok or other social media was not provided. Several lawsuits have been filed against TikTok for allegedly causing the deaths of children who have attempted it, though all have ended up in dismissals based on legal immunity. [13] [14] [15]
Subsequent media investigations and court filings linked the challenge to a broader number of incidents across the world. Bloomsberg Businessweek reported that around 20 children died in an eighteen-month period from 2021-2022, other news outlets suggested this figure could be higher. Some advocacy groups and plaintiffs' law firms have alleged that the ‘Blackout Challenge’ represents a significant online threat to children, but these claims have not been substantiated by independent research, and no verified viral trend has ever been documented.
Paul Diamond, a district judge in Philadelphia, ruled that the company was immune from a lawsuit under the Communications Decency Act and Section 230, which prevents liability based on the work of others. [16] [17] The Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reversed Diamond on August 26, 2024, holding that the protections afforded by the Communications Decency Act and Section 230 do not apply to the algorithms used by social media. [18]
In 2025, the parents of 4 British teenagers who died after allegedly attempting the challenge filed a wrongful death lawsuit against TikTok in Delaware, suggesting that TikTok's "For You" algorithm promoted the blackout challenge videos to minors and failed to outline adequate safety measures. [19] As a result, the case has sparked a large debate on online safety regulations, including discussions surrounding the UK Online Safety Act.
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