Parents sue TikTok over death of daughter

(Los Angeles, CA) -- TikTok is being sued by the parents of two girls who claim they died participating in the "blackout challenge."

The challenge is described by website Know Your Meme as users trying to "asphyxiate themselves to gain a massive headrush." The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court last week argues TikTok is "addictive" and its algorithm intentionally showed the children dangerous content that led to their deaths. The girls aged eight and nine died last year.

In a statement to People magazine last year following a separate death connected to the challenge, TikTok said the challenge "long predates" the app and "has never been a TikTok trend."