[6] Time magazine reported in 2018 that social media platforms made information about the concept more widespread, leading more children to attempt it alone rather than with others.
[10] The Washington Post reported that TikTok chose to block search results for the challenge and related terms, instead presenting a warning message.
[1][4] Several lawsuits have been filed against TikTok for allegedly causing the deaths of children who have attempted it, though all have ended up in dismissals based on legal immunity.
[12][13][14] Paul Diamond, a district judge in Philadelphia, ruled that the company was immune from a lawsuit under the Communications Decency Act and Section 230, which prevents liability based on the work of others.
[15][16] The Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reversed Diamond on August 26, 2024, holding that the protections afforded by the Communications Decency Act and Section 230 do not apply to the algorithms used by social media.