Report Reveals Dangerous TikTok Challenges Cause Deaths and Injuries

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – A new safety analysis from the Omega Law Group reveals the serious consequences of dangerous social media challenges, with children as young as 10 attempting potentially deadly trends that have resulted in more than 100 deaths and tens of thousands of emergency room visits.

The study shows kids have suffered severe injuries and deaths from participating in viral challenges after seeing them online. One child ended up in the emergency room after microwaving a toy and getting burned. Others have died from blackout challenges or landed in intensive care units after Benadryl challenges.

“You’re looking at Benadryl for example, taking an absorbent amount of Benadryl to see what happens. Maybe you’re jumping off of crates or, you know, flipping over a moving cars as they’re driving by,” said Marcy Thornhill, an online safety expert. “And while it looks cool and kids think it’s cool, what is doing is enticing them to do things that have deadly consequences.”

The study found that children have attempted blackout, Benadryl and Tide Pod challenges, resulting in brain damage, organ failure, and seizures. In several cases, insurance companies denied coverage because the acts were deemed avoidable.

“So you’re looking at young people doing flips and then they’re becoming quadriplegic or they’re having brain damage,” Thornhill said. “Some that are breaking bones or just having a lot of internal issues from the drugs and, you know, you heard the cinnamon challenge, right? They were taking cinnamon and choking, can’t breathe, aspirating things like that. And insurance companies are not going to pay for the medical bills.”

Parents face medical costs upward of $80,000 to $100,000 as a result of injuries from challenges their children saw online, according to the study. Thornhill, a social media safety consultant, said parents need to understand what they’re facing and have frank conversations with their children about consequences.

“I had one young lady, I think she did the Gorilla Glue with her hair and they couldn’t get it out. She ended up having to have surgery because it glued her hair to her scalp,” Thornhill said. “Parents need to share consequence. There’s no longer need to shield our children from the harsh reality they see every day. Parents, I want to protect them from what? Protect them from themselves by educating them. Because if you don’t, social media will.”

Thornhill said parents can also encourage children to participate in positive and healthy challenges on social media platforms. The dangerous trends include fire challenges, milk crate challenges and others that continue to circulate on social media platforms, putting children at risk for serious injury or death.