As social media has gotten more popular among kids, social media challenges have continued to go mega-viral. While some are harmless and fun, others can be dangerous and may have deadly consequences. There have been countless stories of tweens and teens losing their lives after trying these challenges. And still, knowing that they can get hurt doesn’t stop them from trying. A tween boy in England sadly lost his life after attempting the Blackout Challenge. Those close to him are hoping that his death will spark important conversations about the dangers of these social media challenges.
West Yorkshire police were called to a home on June 27, 2025, after being alerted by the local ambulance service, Yorkshire Live reported. There were concerns about the safety of a 12-year-old boy in the home.
“Officers attended the location and the boy was taken to hospital where it was later confirmed that he had died,” West Yorkshire police said in a statement. “Enquiries are ongoing on behalf of the West Yorkshire Coroner to establish exactly what happened. The incident is not being treated as suspicious.”
While police didn’t offer details about the boy or his death, a GoFundMe filled in the blanks. The fundraiser identifies the boy as Sebastian, and says the money raised will benefit his parents. The exact relationship between the family and the person running the fundraiser is unknown.
Sebastian is described as a “boy full of dreams, passion, and incredible talent.” He enjoyed playing guitar and keyboard, and he also liked drawing. “Everyone who met him was touched by his gentle spirit.” The organizer called his parents “loving,” saying they “would have given him the stars.”
“Sadly, one brief moment changed everything. A dangerous internet challenge took his life,” the post alluded.
The organizer did offer a little more insight, saying Sebastian died as a result of attempting the “scarf challenge/blackout challenge” he’d seen on social media. “His parents gave him all the love and care in the world — but that one moment online changed everything.”
The Blackout Challenge is especially popular on TikTok, according to an article published by The Independent in 2022. Participants in the Blackout Challenge are encouraged to choke themselves with a household item like a scarf until they lose consciousness and pass out. They are then supposed to film the adrenaline rush they feel when they regain consciousness.
At the time of the article’s writing, at least 20 children had died attempting it. Around 15 of those children were age 12 or younger.
The GoFundMe for Sebastian’s parents encourages people to turn the boy’s death into a conversation with the kids in their lives. “Don’t assume: ‘My child would never do that.’ The online world can be as dangerous as the real one — sometimes even more so,” the organizer warns.
“Let it be a quiet call for awareness — a reminder to stay close, to talk more, to protect the ones we love. So that other children may live. So that no other parent has to experience this unimaginable pain.”
