A Volusia County father says he was absolutely horrified after seeing a video he believes shows his middle-school-aged son attempting the ‘Blackout Challenge,’ a dangerous viral trend that involves cutting off airflow to briefly induce passing out. He says the incident shows why families need clear warnings about the risks.
The father spoke with WKMG about the incident, according to Volusia County Schools. He said the trend can put children at serious risk. News 6 separately reviewed another video involving an Ormond Beach middle schooler in which the child appears to pass out.
A Trend With a Long, Dangerous History
The Blackout Challenge is not new. CDC research has documented deaths associated with so-called choking games among children ages 6 through 19, according to the CDC. The history of the practice underscores why the Ormond Beach father is pushing for broader, more visible warnings rather than quiet, case-by-case notifications.
Medical experts note the danger moves fast. Intentional oxygen deprivation can cause a person to lose consciousness within two to four minutes and can lead to serious injury, according to the Alliance for HOPE International. The risks show why middle school-aged children and their families need clear warnings before a dangerous stunt spreads.
District Response Leaves Father Wanting More
The father told WKMG about the incident. Volusia County Schools did not answer questions about how specifically the incident is being addressed, per the report.
News 6 said it is working to learn what action, if any, will be taken, and it reported reaching out to the Volusia Sheriff's Office for comment. Parents should stay alert and diligently monitor what their children are doing online.
Wider Legal and Regulatory Pressure on Platforms
The family's concerns arrive amid a broader legal reckoning over how social media companies handle viral challenges aimed at children. In August 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled in Anderson v. TikTok that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act does not shield TikTok from product liability lawsuits over its recommendation algorithm pushing dangerous stunts like the Blackout Challenge to minors, according to Justia Law. That case stemmed from the death of a 10-year-old girl who died in 2021 after attempting the challenge after seeing it on her feed.
Florida has also moved to restrict how younger kids access these platforms in the first place. Under House Bill 3, signed into law in 2024 and cleared for enforcement by a federal appeals court in November 2025, social media platforms are prohibited from allowing children under 14 to create accounts and must require parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds, per the News Service of Florida. TikTok prohibits dangerous content and has blocked related searches, according to Reason Magazine.
Local Officials Have Warned About Other Viral Stunts
Dangerous social media trends can carry serious legal and life-threatening risks. School conduct and discipline policies are one way to address student behavior.
For now, the Ormond Beach father is focused on warning other parents about the danger. He says plainly that children die all the time from doing these stupid pranks.
