What is TikTok’s blackout challenge?

TIKTOK is being sued by the families of two young girls who allegedly died attempting the blackout challenge.

They believe the platform's "dangerous algorithm" continued to push videos of the online challenge into the children’s feeds in the lead up to their deaths.

What is the TikTok blackout challenge?

The blackout challenge is an online trend that encourages users to choke themselves until the point of losing consciousness, before uploading the results to TikTok.

The dangerous online challenge has existed before and has previously been known as the “Pass Out Challenge,” "The Game of Choking";, "Speed Dreaming" or "The Fainting Game".

It is believed that millions of videos of people have attempted the life-threatening task challenge on platforms such as YouTube since it gained mainstream popularity in 2021.

Medical professionals warned that the trend can lead to fainting, brain damage, seizures and even death.

Joshua Haileyesus, a 12-year-old from Colorado, died in April 2021 after trying the task.

As did a 12 year-old boy died who was found “unresponsive" with “ligature marks” around his neck in an Oklahoma apartment.

It followed the tragic death of a teen in June 2021, and a 10-year-girl who attempted the challenge in Italy in January 2021.

A year later, the social media platform was prompted to take further action in wake of the high profile case of Archie Battersbee.