Five sets of British parents are preparing for a landmark legal battle against social media giant TikTok, which they hold responsible for the deaths of their children. The families allege the young people, all aged between 12 and 14, died attempting the so-called 'blackout challenge', a dangerous stunt they believe was promoted on the platform.
A Grief Put on Hold
The parents' US action for wrongful death is not solely about compensation; it is a desperate quest for answers. Their first hearing is scheduled for Friday, 16 January 2026, where TikTok will attempt to have the case dismissed, arguing it is being sued in the wrong jurisdiction as the harm occurred in the UK.
"I'd rather not do this. I'd rather I was left to grieve, but I'm stuck in a tunnel and I can't get out," said Liam Walsh, whose 13-year-old daughter Maia died three years ago. This sentiment is echoed by Hollie Dance, mother of 12-year-old Archie, who emphasises the impossibility of closure without knowing the full truth. "You have that initial grief, that initial shock but when you don't know what happened to your child, it's very hard to find closure," she explained.
The Children Lost to a Viral Trend
The tragedy unfolded across several households in a short period. Noah Gordon, aged 12, died on 9 December 2021, found by his brother in his bedroom. His mother, Louise Gordon, recounted searching his phone for signs of bullying, never thinking to check his social media activity.
Jools, 14, was found unresponsive by his mother Ellen Roome just an hour after friends had left their home. Isaac, a 13-year-old described as a joker, was discovered by his mother Lisa Kenevan in March 2022. Police later found videos on his device, apparently recorded through TikTok but not posted, showing him pointing to his neck and laughing.
Archie Battersbee, 12, was planning a cinema trip with his mother Hollie Dance the day he was found unresponsive. He spent four months on life-support before he died. All five families are united in their belief that the children were attempting the 'blackout challenge', a decades-old stunt involving self-asphyxiation that is banned on most major platforms.
The Search for Data and Accountability
A central hurdle in the case is digital evidence. TikTok has stated that data regarding what the children were watching has likely been deleted under standard data privacy rules. The legal process may determine if this data can be recovered, potentially revealing what the children saw in their final moments.
The company has consistently stated that the blackout challenge never trended on its platform and has been banned there since 2020. In a statement to Sky News, TikTok said: "Our deepest sympathies remain with these families. We strictly prohibit content that promotes or encourages dangerous behaviour... we remove 99% that's found to break these rules before it is reported to us."
For parents like Ellen Roome and Liam Walsh, who each lost their only child, the fight has become all-consuming. "What's our purpose? Because I'm no longer a parent," Ellen asked. "So when I get to end of this, then what happens?" Liam Walsh is driven by a need for justice: "My daughter deserves better than this, than to be brushed under the carpet without an investigation into why she's died."
The case highlights ongoing global concerns about online safety for young people and the duty of care owed by social media algorithms. As the parents head to court, their battle transcends their personal tragedy, becoming a test case for corporate accountability in the digital age.
