Parents suing TikTok over children's deaths say it 'has no compassion'

In a heartbreaking situation, four families from the UK are suing TikTok, claiming that the social media platform is responsible for the tragic deaths of their children. The parents have expressed their feelings of anger and sadness, stating that TikTok shows 'no compassion' for the pain they are experiencing. They are seeking answers and accountability from the company, hoping to uncover the truth about what led to their children's deaths. During an exclusive interview on BBC One's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the parents shared their stories and the devastating impact of losing their children. The children reportedly died while attempting a dangerous challenge known as the 'blackout challenge,' which gained popularity on TikTok in 2022. TikTok has publicly stated that it prohibits dangerous content and challenges, and the company has taken steps to block searches for videos and hashtags related to this specific challenge. The lawsuit was filed in the United States by the Social Media Victims Law Center on behalf of the grieving parents: Hollie Dance, Lisa Kenevan, Ellen Roome, and Liam Walsh. Each parent is mourning the loss of their child and is determined to hold TikTok accountable for its role in these tragedies. Ms. Kenevan, one of the mothers involved in the lawsuit, accused TikTok of violating its own policies regarding the promotion of dangerous content. She expressed her frustration, stating that the families have been met with the same corporate response that lacks genuine compassion. The parents feel that TikTok is not taking their concerns seriously and that the company is failing to provide them with the information they need to understand what happened to their children. Ms. Kenevan questioned, 'How can they sleep at night? ' The parents are also expressing their concerns about the government's ability to protect children online. Mr. Walsh voiced his skepticism about the effectiveness of the UK government's efforts to ensure children's safety on the internet. He mentioned the upcoming Online Safety Act, which is set to take effect this spring, but he remains doubtful about its potential impact. He stated, 'I don't have faith, and I'm about to find out if I'm right or wrong. ' Ms. Roome, another grieving parent, shared her struggles with coping and expressed gratitude for the support she receives from the other parents who are going through similar experiences. The families believe that TikTok's design and programming choices have created harmful dependencies in children, leading to dangerous behaviors. They argue that the deaths of their children were foreseeable consequences of TikTok's approach to engaging users. The lawsuit claims that the platform's design encourages children to maximize their engagement, often at the expense of their safety. The parents are adamant that TikTok must take responsibility for the consequences of its actions and help them find answers. TikTok has reiterated its commitment to removing harmful content and has blocked searches related to the blackout challenge since 2020. The company claims to proactively identify and remove 99% of content that violates its rules before it can be reported. TikTok has also engaged in discussions with Ms. Roome regarding her case, but the company maintains that it is required to delete personal data unless law enforcement requests it beforehand. The parents are resolute in their pursuit of justice for their children and hope that their lawsuit will lead to meaningful changes that protect other children from similar dangers in the future.