Current Events > Another boy dies after trying the TikTok blackout challenge

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https://www.wfla.com/news/another-boy-dies-after-trying-tiktok-blackout-challenge/

A grieving Massachusetts family is trying to bring awareness to the dangers of a social media challenge that caused the death of their eighth-grader this week. Amherst Regional Middle School student Nate Squires was found unresponsive at home Monday after attempting the blackout challenge, his family said on a GoFundMe page. The social media challenge, which has gained popularity on TikTok, encourages children to choke themselves until they lose consciousness. Samantha Thomas, a sister-in-law, said the entire family feels like the rug has been ripped out from under us. All over the world families are losing children to this. We ask that if you cannot donate, please reach out to a child in your life and talk to them about the Blackout Challenge, said Thomas, who organized the GoFundMe.

The blackout challenge has been around for years, daring participants to endure choking to the point of passing out in order to gain a sense of euphoria. In April, a 12-year-old Colorado boy died after participating in the challenge. The dangerous challenge, which has gained popularity on TikTok, also goes by the names pass-out challenge, the game of choking, or speed dreaming.

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The next hot tiktok challenge the drano chug challenge!

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I know what I want to say but I probably shouldn't say it.

Sad though :(

I remember the condom eating challenge and how weird that one was. Then it became tide pods and now this. Suddenly eating condoms doesn't seem as weird. Still weird, just not as weird.

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DoGCyN posted...

I know what I want to say but I probably shouldn't say it.

Sad though :(

What in the actual fucking white guy

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If you want 30 seconds of euphoria and a lingering headache just do whippets instead.
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How many people have died because of tik tok?

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Kids have been choking themselves into unconsciousness for fun since before social media so this is less a social media issue and more of a stupid child issue. Though I guess the social media probably makes it worse.

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ThePrinceFish posted...

Kids have been choking themselves into unconsciousness for fun since before social media so this is less a social media issue and more of a stupid child issue. Though I guess the social media probably makes it worse.

I was sheltered as a child. Did I miss out?

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I thought choking yourself to death wasn't possible unless you tied something around your neck or something. Otherwise you start breathing again after you lose consciousness.

Still, this is a tragedy. I don't understand how these sort of things even happen.

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Ngl I did this in like 2000 to win a Charizard card. Kids always do this dumb shit

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Umbreon posted...

I thought choking yourself to death wasn't possible unless you tied something around your neck or something.

Possible he had Asthma or even Sleep Apnea? I was under the same assumption as you. Although the article doesn't seem to mention how he choked himself. Maybe he did tie something around his neck

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DoGCyN posted...

I was sheltered as a child. Did I miss out?

You missed out on being stupid? That's a shame./s

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DoGCyN posted...

I was sheltered as a child. Did I miss out?

That's news to me as well. I remember kids doing stupid things back in my day, and I certainly did some of them, but choking wasn't one of them.

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mustachedmystic posted...

You missed out on being stupid? That's a shame./s

That's why now, in my 30s, I'm learning how stupid works! Better late than never

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The ol fainting game. Did that a bunch in the 6th grade.
WHAT A RUSH

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Umbreon posted...

That's news to me as well. I remember kids doing stupid things back in my day, and I certainly did some of them, but choking wasn't one of them.

Erotic asphyxiation is the only thing that comes to mind for me. So much so South Park made that joke about it (batman suit while jerking and hanging yourself for a WICKED orgasm).

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We threw rocks at cars as kids

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I am not trying to sound mean when I say this.. but

But why in the fuck would need to have a talk with your kids that they should not choking themselves. They are either going to do it or not. How is talking to them going to help.

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ThePrinceFish posted...

Kids have been choking themselves into unconsciousness for fun since before social media so this is less a social media issue and more of a stupid child issue. Though I guess the social media probably makes it worse.

Yeah, this is decades old.

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I never heard of that when I was younger. A bunch of kids played a game where theyd take turns spinning a quarter, and whoever fucked up and knocked over the quarter would have to put their fist on the table while the other person launched the quarter at their knuckles.

I think that was the dumbest thing at my school when I was that age.



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I mean a 'You don't have to accept every dumb challenge' talk would do good I imagine. Just to let them know that being called "Chicken" is better than jumping off a bridge.

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cjsdowg posted...

I am not trying to sound mean when I say this.. but

But why in the fuck would need to have a talk with your kids that they should not choking themselves. They are either going to do it or not. How is talking to them going to help.

what, how many kids you got did you have parents?

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Guys, be responsible. If you want to be choked into unconsciousness, visit the professionals at the local MMA gym, or consult the services of a local dominatrix who is experienced in this.

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The Popo posted...

I never heard of that when I was younger. A bunch of kids played a game where theyd take turns spinning a quarter, and whoever fucked up and knocked over the quarter would have to put their fist on the table while the other person launched the quarter at their knuckles.

I think that was the dumbest thing at my school when I was that age.

dude this game fucking owned

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metallica846 posted...

I think we called that Bloody Knuckles.

Teachers tried to ban it.

Yeah, we called it bloody knuckles, but I never knew if that was a good name for it, since bloody knuckles is usually the game where youd just take turns punching each others knuckles.

And they banned it at our school too. I remember kids clearing out like roaches if they knew a teacher was approaching.

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touch the table saw challenge

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I was the king of bloody knuckles.
AlphaCuck posted...

touch the table saw challenge

Kid lost his finger at my middle school.

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What the fuck is up with these "challenges"?

Whats next? The Bleach Chug Challenge?

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Umbreon posted...

I thought choking yourself to death wasn't possible unless you tied something around your neck or something. Otherwise you start breathing again after you lose consciousness.

Still, this is a tragedy. I don't understand how these sort of things even happen.

Maybe he hit his head when he fell over?

I know TikTok challenges are stupid and dangerous but surely they're not encouraging kids to tie shit around their neck.

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Jesus Christ, kids are fucking stupid. Common sense is all you need to know that choking yourself is a bad idea.

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REexpert44 posted...

What the fuck is up with these "challenges"?

Whats next? The Bleach Chug Challenge?

You joke, but probably yes.

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DoGCyN posted...

I was sheltered as a child. Did I miss out?

It was a thing. I never participated

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Im not gonna call kids these days dumb. I told my cousin when I was in 7th grade that Chris Benoits Crippler Crossface doesnt hurt and wrestling is fake.

He then dared me to last more than 10 seconds while he did the move on me.

All I remember is my aunt crying while I was drenched in water. my cousin and brother tried to wake me up splashing water on me.

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RedJackson posted...

What in the actual fucking white guy

I had something else in mind...

Maybe something that references someone's namesake as it refers to, *ahem* evolution.


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Well, play stupid games...
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Spooking posted...

You'd think there would be an auto-flag for these challenge videos by now.

Why would there be, not like its dangerous misinformation

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Does that mean he won the challenge?

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This is why you act instead of actually doing it

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Natural selection.

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The Popo posted...

I never heard of that when I was younger. A bunch of kids played a game where theyd take turns spinning a quarter, and whoever fucked up and knocked over the quarter would have to put their fist on the table while the other person launched the quarter at their knuckles.

I think that was the dumbest thing at my school when I was that age.

This was the shit. Came home with knuckles like chunky pizza cheese.

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In my day we taped paper wings to our back and jumped off houses.

And they called us the crazy ones.

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Umbreon posted...

I mean a 'You don't have to accept every dumb challenge' talk would do good I imagine. Just to let them know that being called "Chicken" is better than jumping off a bridge.

Not good enough. These challenges aren't dares fueled merely by peer pressure. They're a chance to prove yourself, but more importantly your ticket to sweet sweet validation from internet strangers. A hit of that dopamine as views, likes, and komments roll in.

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MacDaMurderer posted...

Im not gonna call kids these days dumb. I told my cousin when I was in 7th grade that Chris Benoits Crippler Crossface doesnt hurt and wrestling is fake.

He then dared me to last more than 10 seconds while he did the move on me.

All I remember is my aunt crying while I was drenched in water. my cousin and brother tried to wake me up splashing water on me.

Yeah, the "choking game" was a thing in elementary school. And then later in high school, snorting Altoids became a challenge, and this was just in 2001. An assembly had to be held with all the students to address that.

People will complain about Tik Tok and zoomers, but this isn't a new phenomenon.

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Back in my day, we called this the choking game >_>

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Hey moms,

If your kid is so starved for attention that they turn to blackout challenges on TikTok to feel validation, maybe you should get off Facebook and spend some time with your damn kid

I remember kids doing this in middle school. So dumb.

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