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The family of a 9-year-old boy have said he died after trying a "strangulation challenge" from TikTok.
According to his obituary, LaTerius Smith Jr., passed away on June 10, 2021 in Memphis, Tennessee, and is described as a "fun-loving, full of energy, bundle of joy who touched many lives."
WREG reported that LaTerius' family members found him unresponsive in his bedroom with a belt around his neck. The 9-year-old was reportedly rushed to hospital, but passed away due to his injuries.
"To see that baby laying in that casket, hasn't even had the opportunity to grow up," Laterius' great-great-aunt, Barbara Williams, told WREG. "You know, his life has ended because of some people putting stupid things on various sites."
The family say they later discovered there was an online challenge which encouraged users to attempt to get out of a self-inflicted strangulation.
"It wasn't until later on that we found out there was some type of video on TikTok, letting kids know how to strangle yourself," said Williams. "But you have got to get out of it, the challenge was to get out of it. But he's nine years old, he's nine years old, so how was he going to get out of it?
"I know you can't watch them 24 hours, but that in which you can do, you just have to save a life," said Williams, as she urged other parents to watch their children's use of social media, block sites if needed and educate themselves on what is online for children to see.
LaTerius isn't the first death to be linked back to TikTok either, as a 10-year-old girl reportedly died after the "Blackout Challenge" in January. The challenge encouraged users to try and pass out by restricting airflow, claiming it creates a high afterwards.
The girl reportedly tied a belt around her neck, and was declared brain dead after being taken to hospital in cardiac arrest.
In May, an 11-year-old in England was reported to be "fighting for his life" after swallowing magnetic balls in an attempt to take part in a TikTok trend. The trend reportedly saw users use the magnetic balls, placed on either side of the tongue, to create a fake tongue piercing.
In 2020, the "Benadryl Challenge" encouraged users to take large amounts of the allergy medication to trip out and cause a high, including hallucinations. In May, three Fort Worth teenagers were rushed to hospital after attempting the challenge, and fully recovered. Reports also claimed a 15-year-old girl died after attempting the challenge in August 2020.
Newsweek contacted TikTok for comment.
