TikTok is facing a lawsuit filed by the parents of four British teenagers who tragically lost their lives after participating in dangerous viral challenges on the platform in 2022. The lawsuit, initiated by the Social Media Victims Law Center, targets TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, for their alleged role in promoting harmful content.
The families of the victims—Archie Battersbee, Isaac Kenevan, Julian “Jools” Sweeney, and Maia Walsh—claim that their deaths were the result of the so-called “blackout challenge.” Filed in the Delaware Superior Court, the complaint argues that ByteDance’s design choices fostered addiction among young users, pushing them toward increasingly risky behaviors to maximize engagement.
According to the lawsuit, the platform created “harmful dependencies” that exposed children to a continuous stream of dangerous content, which they did not actively seek out. The parents assert that these issues stem from the app’s design, which prioritizes user engagement over safety.
The case emerges amid ongoing concerns regarding TikTok’s future in the United States. President Donald Trump previously signed an executive order aimed at banning the app unless it is sold to a different company.
In January 2024, a coroner ruled that Archie Battersbee, aged 12, died after a “prank or experiment” went wrong at home. His mother, Hollie Dance, alongside other grieving parents, has been vocal about the need for greater awareness of the dangers posed by social media trends.
Ellen Roome, mother of 14-year-old Jools, who is believed to have died while attempting an online challenge, is actively seeking access to TikTok data that could shed light on her son’s death. She is also campaigning for “Jools’ Law,” which would grant parents access to their deceased children’s social media accounts.
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