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Investigation Launched After 10-Year-Old's Death Linked To TikTok 'Blackout Game'

Investigation Launched After 10-Year-Old's Death Linked To TikTok 'Blackout Game'

The probe has been launched following the death of a girl whose sister told her parents she had been playing 'the blackout game'

Rebecca Shepherd

Rebecca Shepherd

A ten-year-old girl has died in Italy after allegedly taking part in a challenge that has been linked to video-sharing platform TikTok.

The youngster was found on the bathroom floor by her five-year-old sister.

Investigations show the girl told her parents she was heading to the bathroom to shower before she attempted to film herself as part of the challenge, which involves asphyxiation.

PA

The child was admitted to intensive care on 20 January and her family were told she was in an irreversible coma.

Now Italian authorities have ordered TikTok to block the accounts of anyone using the platform who cannot verify their age, in order to enforce the rule that users must be at least 13 years old in TikTok's terms and conditions.

Palermo prosecutors have also opened an investigation for 'incitement to suicide'.

The girl's dad told local media: "[She] was playing the game of asphyxiation. My daughter who dies because of an extreme game on TikTok, how can I accept it?"

PA

Now the little girl's organs have been donated to help other children. Speaking about the decision to opt for donation, her father said: "In this way, [she] will save many children.

"We chose to say yes to the donation, because our daughter would have said 'yes, do it'.

"She was a generous child. And since we couldn't have her with us anymore, we felt it was right to help other children."

He also explained how much she used the social networking app, telling Corriere della Sera: "TikTok was her world. And YouTube. That's how she spent her time."

In a statement to 7News, a TikTok spokesperson said: "Our deepest sympathies are with the girl's family and friends.

"We do not allow content that encourages, promotes, or glorifies dangerous behaviour that might lead to injury, and our teams work diligently to identify and remove content that violates our policies.

"While we have not currently found evidence of content on our platform that might have encouraged such an incident off-platform, we will continue to monitor closely as part of our continuous commitment to keep our community safe.

"We will also assist the relevant authorities with their investigation as appropriate."

LADbible has contacted TikTok for further comment.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: News, Italy, TikTok