Four families from the UK have filed a lawsuit in the United States against the social media platform TikTok, claiming wrongful death in connection with their children’s cases.
The parents assert that their children’s deaths were a result of participating in a so-called “blackout challenge” that they had encountered on the app.
The lawsuit names Archie Battersbee, 12, Isaac Kenevan, 13, Maia Walsh, 13, and Julian “Jools” Sweeney, 14, who allegedly died while attempting the challenge.
All four children lost their lives in 2022, with three of them passing away within a span of 45 days.
Lisa Kenevan (L) and Hollie Dance advocate for internet safety in educational institutions.
A spokesperson for TikTok stated that the app does not “provide search results or hashtags associated with this challenge,” meaning that when someone searches for #BlackOutChallenge or similar terms, they receive a message directing them to the Safety Centre.
The spokesperson further emphasized that the app “prohibits content that displays or endorses dangerous behavior.”
The parents involved in the lawsuit—Hollie Dance, mother of Archie; Lisa Kenevan, mother of Isaac; Liam Walsh, father of Maia; and Ellen Roome, mother of Jools—are seeking access to their children’s TikTok data. They believe it’s crucial to uncover the truth.
However, a TikTok spokesperson mentioned that “the law mandates companies like ours to delete individuals’ personal data unless it’s necessary for business operations.”
They also noted exceptions may occur when “a company receives a legitimate request from law enforcement.”
TikTok added that user safety is its top priority, announcing an investment of over $2 billion in platform security this year.
Speaking from her home in Essex, Ms. Kenevan expressed that it’s “no coincidence” that three of the deaths occurred within 45 days of one another.
Ms. Dance, who lives nearby, believes that the children were influenced by the content promoted by the “algorithm.”
“It’s something they’ve encountered in the algorithm. We also live very close to each other,” she explained.
Lisa concurred, stating, “It’s too much of a coincidence, especially all happening in 2022.”
Archie Battersbee was a “sports fanatic” and a talented gymnast.
Ms. Dance fondly remembers Archie, saying, “He was definitely a charmer.”
Her son was enthusiastic about sports and had a talent for gymnastics.
On April 7, 2022, they had just come home from dining out and were planning a trip to the cinema.
While Ms. Dance was in her room on a phone call, the unimaginable occurred.
“The phone call lasted four minutes and 23 seconds, and just five steps away from me, when I came out of my room, Archie was unresponsive,” she recalled.
Four months later, after being placed on life support, Archie tragically passed away.
When asked how she wants her son to be remembered, Ms. Dance fights back tears.
“Just for the beautiful little boy he was. He was funny and should be here now. He had dreams, ambitions. He intended to be here, and I want to understand why he’s not, and I want TikTok to provide those answers,” she pleaded.
Lisa believes that Isaac and the other children would be proud of the campaign their parents are spearheading.
Ms. Kenevan described her son as “an old soul, always curious.”
The day he was discovered unconscious is permanently imprinted in her mind.
She had just returned home after picking up Isaac and his sister from school.
When she called for him for dinner, he was upstairs in the bathroom, but there was silence.
“I couldn’t open the door, so I ran downstairs to grab a hammer from the garage. I dashed upstairs and broke the lock on the door, and that’s where I found Isaac,” she recounted.
Nearly three years after his passing, his loss continues to challenge both of his parents and his older sister daily.
Nevertheless, Ms. Kenevan believes that Isaac and the other children would support their parents’ campaign.
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“I know Isaac would tell me, ‘yes mum, fight for all these other children.’ I promised him I would never just curl up and fade away. I will have a voice. I also promised to look after his sister, and I don’t break promises,” she insisted.
When asked what her advice would be to other parents regarding children’s social media use, Ms. Kenevan advised, “I would say delay social media access for as long as you can. If you try to stop them now, after they’ve already been exposed, it will only be more difficult.”
“I understand the peer pressure regarding smartphones, but they don’t need social media. Their brains aren’t fully developed yet. They shouldn’t be enveloped by all this negativity.”
Ms. Kenevan advocates for stricter age verification on social media platforms.
Both Ms. Kenevan and Ms. Dance, now close friends, frequently visit schools to engage with parents about promoting safer internet usage.
