Home
World News
Family mourns 13-year-old son’s death linked to social media challenge

Family mourns 13-year-old son’s death linked to social media challenge

1 mins

The tragic death of 13-year-old Nnamdi Glenn Ohaeri Jr. from Murrieta, California, has brought renewed attention to the dangers of social media challenges. On February 3, 2025, Nnamdi was found unresponsive in his bedroom by his parents after spending the previous day together.

Initially suspected to be a suicide, further investigation led his family to believe he had participated in a challenge resembling the “Blackout Challenge,” which involves inducing unconsciousness. Despite strict controls on his phone and the absence of personal social media accounts, it’s suspected that Nnamdi learned about the challenge from classmates. His family hopes to raise awareness among other parents about the potential dangers associated with social media. A GoFundMe campaign has been established in his memory, raising over $74,000 to support the family during this difficult time.

This incident is not isolated. In the United Kingdom, four families are pursuing legal action against TikTok following the deaths of their children, believed to be linked to the “Blackout Challenge.” These parents are seeking access to their children’s data to understand the circumstances leading up to their deaths and to hold the platform accountable. They express skepticism regarding TikTok’s claims of data deletion and emphasize the need for transparency. Advocates are calling for legislative changes, such as “Jools’ law,” to grant parents automatic access to their deceased children’s data. TikTok maintains that it has blocked dangerous challenges since 2020 and asserts that the “Blackout Challenge” was never a trending topic on its platform.

In a related case, 14-year-old Davi Nunes Moreira from Brazil died after injecting himself with butterfly remains, possibly as part of a distorted online challenge. After the injection, he experienced severe symptoms, including vomiting and difficulty walking. Initially, he told his father he was injured while playing, but as his condition worsened, he revealed the true cause. Authorities are investigating whether this incident was influenced by a social media trend.

These tragic events underscore the urgent need for increased awareness and proactive measures to protect young individuals from hazardous online content. Parents are encouraged to engage in open dialogues with their children about the potential risks of social media and to monitor their online activities closely. Platforms hosting user-generated content bear a responsibility to implement stringent safeguards to prevent the dissemination of harmful challenges.