Nylah Anderson, 10, Dies After TikTok Algorithm Pushes Blackout Challenge to Her 'For You' Feed
Incident Details
Summary
Nylah Anderson, 10, of Chester, Pennsylvania was found unresponsive in her bedroom on December 7, 2021 after attempting the 'blackout challenge' — a viral trend TikTok's algorithm had recommended to her via the For You Page. She died five days later on December 12. Forensic analysis confirmed TikTok was in use at the time. Her mother Tawainna Anderson sued TikTok, alleging its algorithm pushed the deadly challenge to her daughter despite other children having already died from it. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later ruled TikTok could be held liable for its algorithmic recommendations, rejecting Section 230 immunity — a landmark ruling in platform liability law.
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