Dozens of teenagers die after attempting TikTok challenge
Korea 600,000 to 700,000 TikTok users under the age of 10
15-17% of all users
Controversy over content such as ‘Itaewon Play’ in the past
Banned in many states… Safety lawsuit
Mr. Kim (32), an office worker, was shocked by a video on the video sharing platform ‘TikTok’ shown by his nephew whom he met after a long time during the holiday season.
Mr. Kim said, “I was surprised by the TikTok video that my nephew, who is in the third grade of elementary school, showed at a gathering of family members. It was a video that I shared with friends because it was fun, but there were many sensational scenes.” He said, “I told my nephew not to use this kind of app, and I went to my nephew’s mother, my sister, and told me that action was needed.” Her older sister said that after watching the video, she said, “These days, kids watch and play like this,” and she was speechless.
Like Mr. Kim’s case, the video sharing platform ‘TikTok’ is emerging as a ‘object of caution’ among parents. This is due to the recent news of a teenage girl who died while doing a ‘hold your breath’ challenge on TikTok, raising concerns about children and teenagers being exposed to inappropriate content.
“Dozens of teenagers who died while doing ‘Challenge’ on TikTok”
According to local media such as Fahina 12, an Argentinian media outlet, on the 17th (local time), 12-year-old Milagros Soto died in Santa Fe, Argentina, while attempting the so-called ‘Breath Holding Challenge’ or ‘Blackout Challenge’.
This challenge involves holding your breath until you lose consciousness by strangulation. Soto’s aunt, Lali Luke, told local media: “I lost my nephew to such a prank challenge and I hope this tragedy never happens to anyone.”
In April of last year, the British Guardian reported that a 12-year-old boy named Archie Battersby was found unconscious while participating in the same challenge. During the 2020 novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) pandemic (global pandemic), this challenge, which started to become popular on TikTok, is said to have killed dozens of people around the world.
Over 600,000 TikTok users under the age of 10 in Korea
TikTok is also popular among Korean teenagers. This is because teenagers tend to prefer ‘short-form’ (short videos) to longer videos. According to the big data platform Mobile Index, the number of monthly active users (including MAU, Android and iOS users combined and duplicated) of the TikTok app for under 10s in Korea exceeds 600,000. In September of last year, the number of MAUs increased by nearly 700,000, recording about 690,000. Among all MAUs in Korea, MAUs under the age of 10 fluctuate between 15 and 17%, occupying a similar proportion to those in their 20s and 30s, each in the early 20s.
As such, TikTok is gradually gaining popularity among teenagers, but concerns are raised that the possibility of exposure to inappropriate or dangerous content is too high for children and young people.
In South Korea, after the Itaewon disaster on October 29 last year, videos with hashtags (#) such as “Itaewon play” and “Itaewon disaster play” spread on TikTok, causing controversy. The play was called the ‘hamburger game (play)’ in the past, and refers to an action in which as few as several dozen people build up their bodies and press those below with their weight.
Regarding this, Mr. Kim (39), a parent with elementary school children, said, “TikTok seems to have too many strange videos, and it seems short and addictive. Blocking (on your child’s smartphone).”
TikTok banned in many states… Started research on mental health in March
Furthermore, it is pointed out that TikTok can cause mental health deterioration. According to foreign media such as Associated Press and CNN, US Attorney General Todd Rokita of Indiana said in December of last year, “TikTok set a user rating of 12 years or older, but exposed drug and sex-related content to deceive users and parents who are minors.” He sued TikTok. TikTok is accused of unauthorized access to users’ data and violating children’s safety.
In the United States, many states, including North Dakota, South Dakota, and Texas, have banned the installation and use of TikTok on devices owned or leased by the state.
Axios, an American Internet media outlet, pointed out on the 9th that the United States had launched an investigation into the adverse effects of TikTok on the mental health of children and teenagers since March, saying, “TikTok has entered 2023 amid deepening suspicion.” Evaluated.
Hankyung.com reporter Shin Hyun-bo greaterfool@hankyung.com
