The families of two young girls who died as a result of a viral TikTok challenge filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, against the social media platform, claiming that its “dangerous” algorithms are to blame for their children’s deaths in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
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They claim that the platform’s “dangerous algorithm intentionally and repeatedly” pushed videos of the challenge into the children’s feeds, incentivizing them to participate in the challenge that ultimately took their lives.
They are represented by the Social Media Victims Law Center (SMVLC), a legal resource for parents of children harmed by social media addiction and abuse.
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One victim, eight-year-old Lalani Erika Renee Walton of Temple, Texas, died on 15 July 2021 as a result of what police determined was “a direct result of attempting TikTok’s ‘Blackout Challenge.’”
The other victim, Arriani Jaileen Arroyo, was discovered not breathing on 26 February 2021 by her five-year-old brother. She was rushed to a nearby hospital but was eventually taken off life support.
The Walton and Arroyo families are seeking unspecified monetary damages and have asked for a jury trial in California.
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