Beware Of The “Blackout Challenge” On Social Media

A WinePress contributor sent me some articles on what is called the “Blackout Challenge,” and how lives have been fatally taken because of some stupid challenge that started on the popular social media app TikTok. This person expressed that we post an article on it.

Minus YouTube, I am not active on social media so I am very much in the dark when it comes to the latest social media fads and trends. When I read these articles about what was happening, I was not 100% sure as to what the challenge is. I further investigated what this challenge is, and it is something that all parents espcially need to be aware of.

The Blackout Challenge is similar to a challenge that started in 2020 known as the Pass Out Challenge, which would challenge teens to shake their heads back and forth until they would lose consciousness.

The Blackout Challenge tempts teens to choke and suffocate themselves so they temporarily ‘blackout’ and wake up soon after.

This challenge, like the majority of other social media related challenges that result in potentially fatal results, is no different and has claimed the lives of a few youthful already.

12 Year-Old Boy Out Of Colorado

Joshua Haileyesus, a 12 year-old boy from Colorado, was found passed out by his brother in the bathroom after participating in the challenge. Joshua used a shoelace to attempt the challenge, according to a Fox News report.

The father of Joshua is hopeful and says he is a “fighter.” Unfortunately, doctors alerted the family that he will never recover.

Told me the bad news that he’s not going to survive, he’s not going to make it. I was begging them on the floor, pleading to see if they can give me some time, not to give up on him. If I just give up on him, I feel like I’m just walking away from my son.

Zeryihun Haileyesus. Thefather

I can’t even describe the grief and devastation. Nobody could ever imagine this would happen to a 12-year-old.

Hirut Yitayew. Family friend

This is something that kids need to be given, to be taught, to be counseled. Because this is a serious thing. It’s not a joke at all. And you can treat it as if somebody is holding a gun. This is how dangerous this is.

Zeryihun Haileyesus

10 Year-Old Girl From Italy

This challenge is not just targeting Americans, but children all around the world.

According to a report from the Hindustan Times, a 10 year-old girl from Italy died in Palermo hospital. The girl’s 5 year-old sister found her in the bathroom with her cellphone which was obtained by police.

Italian prosecutors have begun an investigation into the death of the child. The Chinese-owned app claims they have not identified any content that would lead the girl to participate in such deadly actions, but they are complying and helping in the investigation.

The safety of the TikTok community is our absolute priority, for this motive we do not allow any content that encourages, promotes or glorifies behaviour that could be dangerous.

TikTok spokesman

AUTHOR COMMENTARY

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.

1 Peter 4:15

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Revelation 21:8

There is no reason whatsoever why a child, let alone anyone, needs a social media account. These places are hotbeds and breeding grounds for vile sin and abominations. The blackout challenge is sickening like all the other ones from years past. Many of you may remember the Tide Pod challenge, or the Blue Whale challenge that results in the participants literally told to kill themselves – to which teens actually did.

These people who create these challenges have lots of blood on their hands and will pay severely for it.

As for parents, as I said, there is no reason for their children to have a social media account. There is no reason for them to have a smartphone. Period. I know the world says you cannot live without one, but that is simply not true in the slightest. Have you noticed that things such as smartphones, tablets, computers, TVs, video game consoles, etc., are referred to as devices? The King James Bible is thousands of years ahead of time when it comes to condemning this stuff.

The instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right.

Isaiah 32:7

[31] Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. [32] For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. [33] But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Proverbs 1:31-33

More so than ever before: parents, you must keep your eyes on your children like a hawk. Talk to them. “Get up in their grill” if you will. I realize they may not like all of that, especially as they get older, but it is imperative to keep close tabs on them so they don’t do stupid stuff, especially almost kill themselves because of emulation and peer pressure. I am not a parent, so I am not going to pretend like I have all the answers on how to be a proper dad, but I can definitely say that a good parent will not allow their children to do whatever unrestricted. That is a massive problem in this society: lazy and useless parents that allow their children to boss them around and do whatever their developing minds want to do. And then people wonder why the nations around the world have fallen apart.

As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

Isaiah 3:12

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