A teenage boy in the United States died after attempting the "blackout challenge" again.
According to CBS News and the New York Post on the 20th (local time), a 12-year-old boy living in Oklahoma participated in the TikTok blackout challenge on the 18th and was found unconscious at his home.
The boy was immediately transported to the hospital by paramedics but passed away a few hours after arriving at the hospital.
Marks indicating strangulation were found on the boy's neck. The police explained that it appears the boy did not attempt suicide but died while trying the blackout challenge, which involves strangling oneself until losing consciousness.
On the video-sharing app TikTok, the blackout challenge, which involves holding one's breath until losing consciousness by strangling the neck or other methods, is becoming popular.
Experts have expressed concerns that the blackout challenge, especially popular among teenagers in the U.S. and other countries, can cause fainting, brain damage, and seizures.
The police warned, "Children are more bored than ever due to lockdowns caused by COVID-19, and they are trying hard to pass their time," adding, "Since social media has a very strong influence on children's lives, parents need to carefully monitor their children's use of social media."
Last month, a boy in Massachusetts also died from a similar incident. In April, a 12-year-old boy in Aurora, Colorado was declared brain dead after attempting the blackout challenge and passed away 19 days later. Earlier this year in Italy, a 10-year-old girl also lost her life due to the blackout challenge.
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