The family is now cautioning other parents to be aware of the dangerous Blackout Challenge.
“We are also concerned for other families who like ourselves, may not be aware of the existence of the Blackout Challenge and others like it,” they wrote on a GoFundMe page created to help with Joshua’s medical bills. “We urge the community to [spread] awareness about Joshua and the real risks involved in not having knowledge of what kinds of activities children are involved in.”
TikTok has since responded to the news and provided its condolences to Joshua’s family.
“At TikTok, we have no higher priority than protecting the safety of our community, and content that promotes or glorifies dangerous behavior is strictly prohibited and promptly removed to prevent it from becoming a trend on our platform,” the company said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.
The CDC encourages The agency encourages health care providers, parents and educators to recognize the signs of the “Blackout Challenge,” which involve discussing the activity, marks on the neck or bloodshot eyes.
And as always friends, you can never keep too close of watch when it comes to the things your kids are doing on their phones. Be vigilant.
