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The Hazardous Influence of Tik Tok, Instagram, Snapchat and Court Rulings on Platform Accountability 

Social media has revolutionized the way we communicate and interact, but it has also brought with it numerous dangers—particularly for young people. Children, teens, and even adults are constantly exposed to hazardous content on these platforms, including cyberbullying, harmful challenges, and manipulative algorithms that prioritize engagement and profits over user well-being. Platforms often fail to verify the ages of their users, leaving minors especially vulnerable to this content. As they chase viral content to boost profits, these companies neglect the necessary safety mechanisms to protect users from harmful online interactions and content

 

 

Are the Social Media Platforms Liable and Responsible for the Hazardous Challenges and Their Devastating Outcomes?

Recent court rulings have begun to erode Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which has long shielded social media companies from being treated as the authors of user-generated content. This immunity has historically allowed these platforms to avoid liability for harmful posts or viral challenges that lead to tragedies like suicide. However, in light of increasing lawsuits involving social media-induced suicides, courts may start to hold these companies accountable for their negligence in preventing harmful content from reaching vulnerable users. 

Philadelphia Social Media Wrongful Death Lawyer

At the Trapani Law Firm, we are committed to raising awareness about these online threats and fighting for justice on behalf of families and individuals affected by social media-induced suicides. Our Philadelphia social media wrongful death suicide lawyers have compiled a comprehensive list of the most dangerous social media challenges including TikTok, messaging apps and other social media platforms, to help protect children and teens and to warn parents and guardians about the dangers lurking online. If your loved one has been harmed or you have experienced a suicide attempt due to social media challenges or harmful content, you have rights and the opportunity to seek justice.

Ten of the Most Hazardous and Deadly TikTok Challenges – List of Social Media Challenges Leading to Suicide, Attempted Suicide, and Self-Harm

These hazardous and deadly social media challenges, including the infamous Blue Whale Challenge and Momo Challenge, have had devastating consequences, often leading to attempted suicides, severe self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and even suicide among young and vulnerable audiences. These challenges target children and teenagers, manipulating them into engaging in dangerous and self-destructive behaviors. They spread rapidly across popular platforms like TikTok, Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube, where their viral nature and psychological tactics lure participants into harm. We selected these challenges based on their widespread influence, their direct link to real-life harm, and the alarming negligence of social media platforms in implementing effective safeguards to protect young users from such fatal risks.

• The Blue Whale Challenge

The Blue Whale Challenge was a deadly online game that originated in Russia around 2016 and quickly spread across social media platforms and messaging apps such as Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, as well as messaging platforms like WhatsApp. It involved a sinister set of 50 daily tasks given to participants, primarily targeting vulnerable teens and children. The tasks started with relatively benign instructions like waking up at odd hours or watching horror films, but gradually escalated to self-harm and dangerous activities. The final task instructed participants to commit suicide, leading to numerous tragic deaths worldwide.

There have been reports of suicides linked to the Blue Whale Challenge in various countries, including Russia, India, Brazil, and the U.S. Though the exact number of victims is difficult to verify, estimates suggest that dozens of teens may have lost their lives as a result of participating in this challenge. Social media platforms became aware of the Blue Whale Challenge after reports of suicides, and while some platforms began removing harmful content and blocking hashtags related to the challenge, their response was largely reactive. Many argued that these platforms failed to act swiftly and adequately to protect vulnerable users from the deadly influence of such challenges. Despite efforts to suppress its spread, the challenge’s dangerous tasks continued to resurface in different forms across the internet.

• The Momo Challenge

The Momo Challenge was another harmful viral trend that emerged around 2018, spreading across messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and even on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. The challenge revolved around a disturbing avatar called “Momo,” which featured an eerie, bird-like woman with bulging eyes. Participants were reportedly contacted by an anonymous user who, using Momo’s image, would instruct them to complete dangerous tasks similar to the Blue Whale Challenge, including self-harm and, in extreme cases, suicide. The anonymous user behind the challenge allegedly threatened to harm participants or their families if they refused to comply.

While the Momo Challenge gained media attention and caused panic among parents, the number of verified deaths linked to the challenge remains unclear. There were reports of children in countries like Argentina and India taking their own lives after allegedly being influenced by the challenge. Platforms like YouTube issued warnings, and WhatsApp took steps to remove accounts spreading the challenge. However, critics have pointed out that these platforms were slow to respond and did not implement sufficient preventive measures to protect children from such viral content. Despite these actions, the Momo Challenge, like the Blue Whale Challenge, exposed significant gaps in how social media platforms safeguard their 

• Slender Man Stabbing

Although not a traditional challenge, the Slender Man phenomenon gained notoriety when two young girls attempted to murder a friend, claiming they were influenced by the fictional character Slender Man, an internet creation that spread through various forums and social media platforms. The girls, only 12 years old at the time, believed they needed to commit the act to appease Slender Man. This incident highlights how viral online stories can have a profound psychological impact on vulnerable users, pushing them toward dangerous and life-threatening behaviors. The case gained international attention, shedding light on how the digital world can blur the lines between fiction and reality for impressionable children. The lack of protective mechanisms on social media platforms allowed this myth to spread unchecked, resulting in devastating real-world consequences.

• Tide Pod Challenge

The Tide Pod Challenge emerged as a dangerous viral trend, primarily on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook, where young people were encouraged to bite into laundry detergent pods. The colorful appearance of the pods made them appealing to children and teens, but ingesting the contents led to severe poisoning, respiratory distress, and even hospitalization in some cases. Poison control centers reported a surge in cases related to this challenge, with many participants suffering from chemical burns and other physical harm. Despite warnings from health professionals and public service announcements, the trend continued to spread, showcasing the negligence of social media platforms in allowing such harmful content to go viral. The challenge reflects the dangerous influence of social media, particularly on children and teens, who are often driven by peer pressure and the allure of viral fame.

• Skull Breaker Challenge

The Skull Breaker Challenge, primarily spread through TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, involved two people kicking a third person’s legs while they jumped, causing them to fall backward and potentially hit their head. This challenge quickly led to severe injuries, including concussions, broken bones, and in some cases, traumatic brain injuries. Participants, often unaware of the risks, were encouraged to partake in this dangerous prank, resulting in widespread harm. Many victims were young teens, with some requiring hospitalization due to the severity of their injuries. Despite the obvious dangers, the challenge spread rapidly across social media, further illustrating the platforms’ failure to prevent the dissemination of hazardous content. The viral nature of the challenge, fueled by the desire for likes and views, highlights the dangerous combination of peer pressure and social media’s influence on impulsive behavior.

• The Fire Challenge

In the Fire Challenge, teens and young adults would set themselves on fire while recording the act, with the intention of quickly extinguishing the flames. However, many participants suffered severe burns, leading to hospitalization and, in some cases, life-threatening injuries. The challenge spread through platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook, where the pursuit of viral fame often overshadowed the clear risks involved. The negligent oversight by social media platforms allowed this trend to reach a wide audience, resulting in tragic outcomes for many young people. Victims, often in their teens, underestimated the dangers, and in some cases, required extensive medical treatment for third-degree burns. The Fire Challenge stands as one of the most reckless examples of viral social media trends, where the potential for deadly consequences was ignored in favor of gaining attention and views online.

• Choking or Pass-Out Challenge

The Choking or Pass-Out Challenge encouraged participants to intentionally cut off their air supply to experience a temporary loss of consciousness. This challenge, which circulated on platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram, has led to multiple fatalities as young people misjudged the risks of oxygen deprivation. Participants, often children and teens, would engage in this challenge without understanding the potential for brain damage or even death. In some tragic cases, children as young as 10 lost their lives after attempting this challenge alone, without supervision. The spread of this dangerous trend revealed a severe lack of safety protocols and monitoring by social media platforms, where hazardous content can reach impressionable audiences with alarming ease. The challenge continues to serve as a grim reminder of the risks associated with viral online trends.

• Benadryl Challenge

The Benadryl Challenge, which gained traction on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, encouraged participants to take excessive doses of the over-the-counter allergy medication Benadryl in order to experience hallucinations. This reckless trend led to several hospitalizations and fatalities due to overdoses, as participants failed to recognize the dangers of taking high doses of medication. Many of the victims were teenagers, with reports of severe medical consequences such as heart failure, seizures, and even death. Despite warnings from medical professionals and parents, the challenge continued to circulate on social media, further exposing the failure of platforms to control harmful content. The Benadryl Challenge is a stark example of how viral trends can manipulate young people into engaging in life-threatening behavior without fully understanding the consequences.

• The Blackout Challenge

Similar to the Choking Challenge, the Blackout Challenge involved participants trying to induce a temporary loss of consciousness by restricting their airflow. This deadly trend spread primarily through TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, and resulted in several fatalities, particularly among children and preteens. Victims as young as 10 have died after engaging in this challenge, unaware of the life-threatening dangers associated with cutting off oxygen to the brain. The challenge’s spread highlights the negligence of social media platforms in preventing such hazardous content from reaching young audiences. Despite growing concerns from parents and health experts, the viral nature of the challenge allowed it to continue circulating, putting countless lives at risk. The Blackout Challenge stands as a tragic example of how dangerous trends can lead to irreversible harm when left unchecked by the platforms that host them.

• The Salt and Ice Challenge

In the Salt and Ice Challenge, participants were encouraged to apply salt and ice to their skin, resulting in a chemical reaction that caused frostbite-like burns. This challenge, which spread on platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, led to severe injuries for many participants, including long-lasting skin damage and scarring. While not directly linked to suicide, the challenge exemplified the reckless and dangerous behavior encouraged by viral online trends. The negligence of social media platforms in moderating such content allowed young users to engage in self-destructive actions without fully understanding the risks. Many participants, often in their teens, were drawn to the challenge out of curiosity or peer pressure, further highlighting the psychological manipulation and influence these trends have on vulnerable audiences.

 

How Can Philadelphia Wrongful Death Lawyers Help You After Preventable Suicide of Your Loved One Induced by Social Media Challnge?

The rise of social media has given birth to numerous mental health issues, especially among vulnerable groups like children, teenagers, and young adults. Tragically, some have taken their own lives due to the harmful content and challenges proliferating across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and others. Social media-induced suicides are preventable, yet many platforms have failed to implement sufficient measures to protect their users. If you’ve lost a loved one to suicide or experienced a suicide attempt due to harmful social media content, you may be entitled to file a Philadelphia wrongful death lawsuit.

Our dedicated wrongful death lawyers are well-versed in modern societal issues, including the insidious role of social media in fostering cyberbullying, harassment, and viral challenges that encourage self-harm. We understand that this profound loss was preventable, and we work tirelessly to hold the negligent social media platforms accountable for prioritizing profits over user safety. Our legal team will fight for you and your family, seeking justice and compensation to cover ongoing medical expenses, therapy, and emotional suffering. When platforms like TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat or X fail to prevent such tragedies, victims and their families have the right to take legal action and demand accountability.

Compensation may cover medical expenses, therapy, ongoing emotional distress, and more. Our lawyers are committed to raising awareness about these dangers, holding social media platforms, like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat or Facebook) accountable, and seeking justice for those who have suffered.

Have You or Your Loved One Suffered From Severe Injuries, Attempted Suicide or Lost a Loved One Due to TikTok, Snapchat or Facebook Challenges? Contact Us Immediately!

If you or a loved one has been harmed by hazardous social media content or dangerous viral challenges, you deserve justice. At the Trapani Law Firm, our lawyers are dedicated to fighting on behalf of families who have lost loved ones or individuals who have survived social media-induced suicide attempts. We believe that everyone deserves access to justice, which is why we work on a contingency fee basis—meaning you won’t pay unless we win your case. Our compassionate team will guide you through every step of the legal process, ensuring that you have the support and advocacy you need during this difficult time.

Contact us today for a free consultation in Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley, Pittsburgh, or anywhere in Pennsylvania. Let us help you fight for justice and compensation for your loss, and hold social media platforms accountable for their negligence.

 

 

Last Updated on September 25, 2024