The death of a British boy linked to a TikTok challenge has reopened an urgent and painful debate for parents: what, exactly, children can stumble into once a phone is in their hands. TikTok is being sued by the parents of four British teenagers who believe their children died after taking part in viral trends circulating on the platform in 2022. The wrongful death lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of the State of Delaware by the US-based Social Media Victims Law Center, names TikTok and its parent company ByteDance. It was brought on behalf of the parents of Isaac Kenevan, Archie Battersbee, Julian “Jools” Sweeney and Maia Walsh. The families say their children died while attempting the so-called blackout challenge. TikTok has blocked searches for videos or hashtags related to the challenge since 2020, and the company says it prohibits dangerous content and directs users who search for such material to its Safety Centre. Scroll down to read more...The complaint argues that the deaths were “the foreseeable result” of ByteDance’s “engineered addiction-by-design and programming decisions", which it says were aimed at pushing children to maximise engagement on the app. It further alleges that ByteDance created harmful dependencies in each child through the platform’s design and then flooded them with what it calls an endless stream of harms. The filing says these were not dangers the children actively sought when they first began using TikTok. Those are serious allegations, and they sit at the centre of a wider argument about how much responsibility social media companies should bear when young users encounter dangerous content online. For some of the parents involved, the case is not only about accountability but about access to information. Ellen Roome, Jools’ mother, has been campaigning for “Jools’ Law", which would give parents access to the social media accounts of their children if they die. The proposal was debated in parliament on 13 January 2025. Roome said parents need to be aware of the dangers of social media and should, where possible, ask their children to show them their phones. She said she had once thought of TikTok as a space of harmless dances and playful challenges but believes there is also harmful material on the platform. In her view, it is wrong that TikTok will not give her access to her son’s account, forcing her to seek information through the courts in the US. The father of Maia Walsh has also said the family is left with questions that need answering.The lawsuit arrives at a time when many families are already uneasy about what children can encounter online, especially on fast-moving platforms built to keep users scrolling. That concern is sharpened by the nature of viral challenges, which can spread quickly, appear playful at first glance and carry a hidden level of risk that may not be obvious to children. For parents, the challenge is not only monitoring screen time but, understanding that the danger may not look dangerous at all.Ms Dance and Lisa Kenevan, Isaac’s mother, have both spent months raising awareness about potentially harmful social media trends since their sons’ deaths. Kenevan described Isaac as a happy, normal boy who wanted to care for his parents. She said he was highly inquisitive and intelligent and that his curiosity led him to attempt the blackout challenge.The conversation around children and smartphones is no longer only about screen time. Increasingly, experts and parents are worrying about algorithms, viral trends and the kind of content children may encounter without actively searching for it. While phones are now deeply woven into school, friendships and daily life, many safety conversations still happen too late. Here are a few precautions parents can consider before handing a child unrestricted access to a smartphone.Do not treat the internet as a harmless playgroundMany parents still assume children mostly use apps for dances, games, memes or chatting with friends. But social media platforms are designed to keep users engaged for long periods, and children can quickly be exposed to disturbing, risky or emotionally manipulative content. Parents should understand what platforms their children use and how recommendation algorithms work.Delay unrestricted access for as long as possibleA child having a phone for safety or communication is different from having unrestricted access to every app. Many experts suggest gradually introducing digital freedom instead of handing over a fully private smartphone at a young age. Starting with limited apps, supervised usage and stronger parental controls can help children learn safer habits first.Keep conversations open, not only strictChildren often hide online experiences when they fear punishment or confiscation of their phone. That is why regular, calm conversations matter more than occasional lectures. Ask children what trends they are watching, which creators they follow and what kind of videos are popular among their friends. The goal is to make them feel safe enough to speak up when something uncomfortable appears online.Teach children that viral does not mean safeOne of the biggest dangers of online challenges is that they often appear playful or harmless at first. Children should be taught early that popularity on social media is not proof of safety. A trend with millions of views can still be risky. Encourage them to pause before copying anything that involves physical danger, choking, dares or risky stunts.Use parental controls, but do not rely on them aloneParental control tools can help limit screen time, filter certain content and monitor app downloads. But no tool is perfect. Harmful content can still appear in unexpected ways, especially through recommendations, reposts or private sharing. Digital safety works best when technology is combined with trust and communication at home.Keep phones out of bedrooms at nightLate-night scrolling increases both emotional vulnerability and exposure to risky content. Many parents now choose to keep phones in shared family spaces overnight rather than allowing unrestricted night-time use behind closed doors. It also improves sleep, which directly affects emotional regulation and decision-making in children.Watch for sudden behavioural changesParents should pay attention if a child becomes unusually secretive, anxious, withdrawn or emotionally reactive around their phone. Changes in sleep, appetite, confidence or social behaviour can sometimes signal unhealthy online experiences. Curiosity and non-judgemental conversation are often more effective than confrontation.Remember that digital safety is now part of parentingFor today’s parents, teaching road safety and stranger danger is no longer enough. Digital spaces have become part of childhood itself. The challenge is not only protecting children from what they search for, but also from what algorithms may place in front of them unexpectedly.