The complaint targeted the company’s algorithm to expose minor users to the challenge.
The complaint targeted the company’s algorithm to expose minor users to the challenge.
Video-based social media platform TikTok is being prosecuted in the US for allegedly serving a harmful “blackout challenge” to children who were killed while trying out the viral dare.
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Two girls, aged eight and nine, died while attempting the challenge in 2021 after watching videos of it on TikTok. His parents are now being represented by the Social Media Victims Law Center (SMVLC).
The lawsuit was filed on June 28 in Los Angeles, California. The wrongful death and survivorship action complaint targeted TikTok Inc. and its parent company, China-based ByteDance Inc., alleging that the social media platform’s algorithms exposed the two girls. “Viral and Deadly TikTok Blackout Challenge.”
The complaint claims that TikTok has failed fix its algorithms or add security measures, despite at least five other children dying after attempting the Blackout Challenge. It also narrated how two young girls became “addicted” to watching and posting TikTok videos after getting smartphones.
“TikTok knew unquestionably that the deadly Blackout Challenge was spreading through their app and that their algorithm was specifically feeding the Blackout Challenge to children, including those who died,” the complaint said.
The complaint also demanded that TikTok modify its “unreasonably dangerous algorithms” and show warnings to young users and their parents, so that they should be aware of the risks of addiction and the app’s “dangers” to minors. can be educated.
The complaint states, “In other words, TikTok has specifically curated and determined that these Blackout Challenge videos – videos that feature users who intentionally strangle themselves until they lose consciousness – are intended for young children.” suitable and not suitable.”
A TikTok spokesperson had earlier said that the Blackout Challenge came before TikTok and was never a trend on the social media platform.