A group of British parents are preparing for a landmark legal battle against social media giant TikTok, alleging the platform contributed to the deaths of their children through a dangerous viral trend known as the 'blackout challenge'. Their first hearing in a US wrongful death lawsuit is scheduled for Friday, 16 January 2026.
The Tragic Loss of Five Young Lives
The legal action involves five families who lost children in near-identical circumstances between 2021 and 2023. Maia Walsh was 13 when she was found unresponsive three years ago. Her father, Liam Walsh, describes being "stuck in a tunnel" of grief and seeking answers.
Just months before, on 9 December 2021, 11-year-old Noah Gibson was discovered by his brother in his bedroom. His sister and mother, Louise Gibson, attempted resuscitation but were unsuccessful. Louise stated she checked his phone for messages from friends or signs of bullying, but never thought to examine his social media activity.
The tragedy repeated itself with three more boys. Jools, aged 14, was found by his mother Ellen Roome shortly after friends had left their home. Archie, 12, was planning a cinema trip with his mother Hollie Dance the day she made a desperate 4-minute 23-second call to 999; he later died after four months on life-support. Isaac, 13, was found by his mother Lisa Kenevan. Police examining his devices found videos, apparently recorded through TikTok but not posted, showing Isaac pointing to his neck and laughing.
The Fight for Answers and Accountability
All five parents believe their children died attempting the 'blackout challenge', a decades-old stunt involving self-asphyxiation that is banned on mainstream platforms. They allege their children encountered it on TikTok, though they lack concrete proof. TikTok maintains the challenge never trended on its platform and has been prohibited there since 2020. The company also states that data regarding what the children watched has likely been deleted under data privacy rules.
For the parents, the lawsuit is a painful but necessary pursuit of truth. "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. Hollie Dance explained the agony of not knowing, saying the lack of closure makes it "very hard to find closure or come to any kind of sense about it all."
For Ellen Roome and Liam Walsh, who each lost their only child, the battle is 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?"
A Crucial Legal Hearing
The initial hearing will see TikTok's legal team attempt to have the case dismissed. The company's argument is that the parents are suing in the wrong jurisdiction, as the alleged harm occurred in the UK, not the US.
In a statement to Sky News, TikTok expressed its "deepest sympathies" to the families and reiterated its strict policies. "We strictly prohibit content that promotes or encourages dangerous behaviour," a spokesperson said, adding that 99% of such content is removed proactively before it is reported.
Despite the platform's assurances, the bereaved families continue their campaign for greater online protections for young people. Their journey through the US courts represents a significant test of social media accountability, with the potential to recover crucial data that could finally explain how their children died.
