This week, a 12-year-old girl in Argentina died after performing the fatal “choking challenge” that TikTok popularized.
Laura Luque, the victim’s aunt, told Jam Press, “We are inconsolable because we gave her so much love,” on the tragedy that occurred on January 13 in Capitán Bermudez, Santa Fe Province.
Milagros Soto, her niece, was found dead in her house after allegedly partaking in the “choking challenge” – one of numerous tragic trends that circulated on TikTok.
This deadly prank, often known as the “blackout challenge,” pushes internet influence-seekers to asphyxiate themselves until they pass out. Experts have cautioned that the unusual viral trend is potentially hazardous, as it can cause fainting, brain damage, seizures, and other adverse effects.
Laura Luque, the victim’s aunt, stated, “I believe someone influenced her to do it.” TikTok users are invited to report anyone participating in the challenge by clicking the “Report” icon.
Soto is not the first child to die tragically as a result of the frightening online prank. During the summer, Leon Brown, 14, and Archie Battersbee, 12, supposedly perished from the same viral threat.
According to Jam Press, Soto had completed the task twice with success before failing on his third attempt. “On the third attempt, she was unable to remove the rope from her neck,” Luque lamented about the fatal occurrence, which was purportedly captured on camera.
Uncertain is Soto’s motivation for trying the dangerous feat. However, her aunt stated that after being bullied at school, the youngster received a WhatsApp message containing the link to the challenge.
“I believe someone encouraged her to do it,” claimed the grieving relative. She suffered greatly from bullying.
She informed us that nobody wanted her at school since she was attractive and had blonde hair.
Despite her earlier explanation, the little girl’s aunt stated that she had “many doubts about everything that happened to her” since “she was a very intelligent girl.”
Authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the death of the preteen.
The community was crushed by the loss of little Soto.
A spokeswoman for School 223 Tte. Gral. Pablo Ricchieri, where the victim attended, stated, “We support the victim’s family in this terrible time.” The deceased was characterized as a “great student, friend, as well as being sweet, good, and kind.”
Luque stated, “We have many questions about everything that occurred to her.” She was an extremely intelligent girl.
Meanwhile, on this side of the Atlantic, TikTok is being sued for wrongful death after two California girls committed suicide by hanging themselves after viewing “blackout challenge” videos on the platform.
The lawsuit stated, “TikTok has invested billions of dollars to intentionally design and develop its product to encourage, enable, and push problematic and highly detrimental to the mental health of its minor users’ content to teens and children.”
TikTok did not respond to The Post’s request for comment. In the past, the streaming service has denied responsibility for the ongoling problem, stating that “choking game” injuries suffered by young people predate the blackout challenge.
TikTok users are invited to report anyone participating in the challenge by clicking the “Report” icon.
»Twelve-year-old girl dies from TikTok choking challenge: ‘Someone encouraged her’«