An 11-year-old boy from Lancaster, England, has died after engaging in a hazardous social media challenge known as “chroming.” The incident occurred at a sleepover at a friend’s home where Tommie-Lee Gracie Billington experienced a suspected cardiac arrest on Saturday, March 2, 2024, because of inhaling toxic chemicals. Billington was rushed to a nearby hospital, but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.

Chroming involves the inhalation of vapors from everyday household items—ranging from aerosol sprays and nail polish removers to cleaning agents—in pursuit of a euphoric sensation. This trend has been identified for its severe health implications, including the risks of brain damage, suffocation, and cardiac arrest. Its increasing visibility on social media has been linked to the unfortunate loss of young lives across the globe.

Expressing deep sorrow and frustration, Tina Burns, Tommie-Lee’s grandmother, has called for significant actions against TikTok and a ban on the broader access of social media to children under 16.

This incident has sparked an intensified debate over social media corporations’ accountability in safeguarding their users. Notably, a January hearing saw executives from key social media firms, including those from Facebook and TikTok, scrutinized by the US Senate Judiciary Committee. The dialogue centered around the presence of perilous trends on their networks, contributing to the legislative push for the “Kids Online Safety Act.” This act seeks to obligate social media entities to mitigate dangerous and exploitative behaviors on their platforms more vigorously.

The widespread phenomenon of chroming highlights the ease of access adolescents have to potentially harmful substances and the magnifying effect social media has on encouraging risky conduct. Health experts and authorities advocate for guardians to discuss openly with their wards about the perils of such social media challenges.

In the United States, recent legislative endeavors aim to regulate minors’ use of social media, incorporating measures like age verification and the rollout of child-friendly platform versions. These initiatives reflect an increasing awareness of social media’s negative impacts on youth’s mental and physical health. However, their effectiveness in reducing the prevalence of dangerous online challenges is yet to be fully assessed.

The Billington family and others mourning similar losses advocate for stricter regulations on social media usage among children.