Parents Worldwide Sue TikTok for Fatal ‘Blackout Challenge’
What? The “blackout challenge” (also known as the “choking game/challenge,” the “fainting game” and “Space Monkeys”) involves participants intentionally asphyxiating themselves until they pass out, with the intent of inducing a sense of euphoria.
So What? The online challenge first went viral on TikTok in 2021 (even though it’s allegedly been blocked since 2020). And unfortunately, it’s gaining popularity once again. Parents from the United States and Great Britain are suing TikTok after their children (six victims between the ages of 8 and 14) died as a result of the challenge, which they saw on the social media platform.
Now What? It’s not easy to talk about the dangers of online challenges with our kids. Older teens might get a scoff or give you an eyeroll in response. And with younger tweens, you may wonder if they’re even old enough to have this discussion yet. Unfortunately, kids are gaining access to social media younger than ever. And, lacking discernment skills that their older siblings might possess, they’re more liable to try dangerous social media stunts in the hope of gaining internet fame. So talk to your kids about what is happening to their peers.
The CDC Says Teen Girls Aren’t Getting Enough Nutrients, Exercise or Sleep
What? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent “Youth Risk Behavior Survey,” teenagers are not getting enough nutrients, exercise or sleep, with teen girls getting even less than their male classmates.
So What? The survey states that just 1 in 4 teens are eating breakfast daily, being physically active for at least 60 minutes daily and getting at least eight hours of sleep each night.
Now What? If physical and mental health are priorities for your teenager (which recent studies highlight as priorities for teens) then you should remind him or her how important it is to engage in healthy behaviors regarding food, exercise and sleep. The CDC survey recommends that teens exercise, sleep, and eat fruit and vegetables daily—and not to skip breakfast.
One in 17 Teens Have Been the Target of Explicit Deepfakes
What? A new study conducted by Thorn, a research center that builds products and resources to help stop the spread of child sexual abuse material, found that 1 in 8 teens personally know someone who has been the victim of explicit deepfake imagery, with 1 in 17 being a victim themselves.
So What? Despite pushes to make deepfakes illegal and safeguards on AI image generators to prevent this abuse, 2% of young people reported they have created explicit deepfake images of someone else, with 70% of those creators using apps downloaded through their device’s app store.
Now What? Although these images aren’t real, we need to emphasize to our sons and daughters how damaging they can still be. Explicit deepfakes can exact an emotional and psychological toll on the person depicted and even damage the victim’s reputation. Additionally, we need to empower our teens to take action if they become victims themselves. Although the majority of surveyed teens said they would tell a trusted family member or even report the abuse to police or the platform the content was shared on, the study found that among actual victims, less than half told their parents, and only 1 in 3 reported it to police or the platforms. And although 9 in 10 teens said they would not ignore such content, 1 in 5 real victims did just that.
The post On the Radar: The ‘Blackout Challenge,’ Terrible Teen Habits and Teenage Deepfake Victims appeared first on Plugged In.
