Teen dies after attempting TikTok ‘Benadryl Challenge’ in the US; Blackout challenge, other TikTok challenges that led to deaths
Produced by: Bhoomika Aggarwal
Designed by: Mohsin Shaikh
A 13-year-old boy from Ohio, USA, died after attempting the TikTok Benadryl Challenge. As per the viral challenge, the performers are supposed to intake heavy doses of this cough syrup to induce hallucinations
Benadryl challenge on TikTok
Jacob Stevens died a week after being put on the ventilator. He had consumed 12 to 14 pills of the over-the-counter antihistamine to induce hallucinations. His parents told a media outlet, that the teen was at home last weekend with friends when he overdosed
Benadryl challenge in the US
Jacob’s friend who was shooting the video said that the deceased started seizing up after attempting the Tik Tok challenge. He was immediately rushed to the hospital and put on a ventilator. After six days of being in a critical state, Jacob passed away
Deadly TikTok challenge
As per reports, the Ohio police are looking into the viral TikTok challenge. No report has been filed yet
Probe into TikTok
Benadryl challenge
This isn’t the first time that a fatal challenge on TikTok has gone viral. A few months ago, there were reports of US children facing complications and even death after attempting a viral Blackout Challenge. At least 15 deaths in children 12 and under were reportedly linked to this challenge
Blackout Challenge on TikTok
The viral TikTok Blackout Challenge, also referred to as the choking challenge or the pass-out challenge, encourages users to hold their breath until they pass out due to a lack of oxygen. The performers often strangulated themselves to the point when they fainted. Although, some who attempted the challenge might have died during the process
Tik Tok Blackout Challenge
Another viral TikTok challenge was the Kiki challenge. The performers, while dancing to lyrics of the song ‘In My Feelings’ by Drake, had to get out of a moving vehicle and start dancing along it and jump back into the car. Multiple countries called for a ban on this challenge, as it hauled up traffic on the road. Many attempting the challenge also sustained injuries
Kiki challenge
India imposed a nationwide ban on TikTok in 2020. A number of other Chinese apps were also banned at that time
India’s ban on TikTok
Australia became the most recent country to ban the Chinese app TikTok on government devices. Apart from it Estonia, The UK, EU, France, The Netherlands, Norway and Belgium have also banned the app in various degrees