16-year-old girl dies in France, attempting viral TikTok ‘scarf game’

A 16-year-old girl died in May in France while attempting the viral ‘scarf game’ on TikTok. Considered a variation of the ‘blackout challenge’, the game has claimed several lives over the last year.

The deceased, Christy Sibali Dominique Gloire Gassaille, reportedly tried the deadly social media challenge at home when she breathed her last on May 27.

As per a New York Post report, Gloire grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The challenge, as perceived on the social media platform, required one to fasten cloth around one’s neck to prevent the flow of oxygen to the brain, i.e. to asphyxiate until passing out. The dangerous pursuit is merely for alleged internet clout.

The girl was interred on June 7, near her residence in France’s Orleans.

Notably, Chinese-owned TikTok boasts of several “games” akin to the ‘scarf game’ that restricts the oxygen flow to the brain, posing threats of serious injury, seizures and death as proved. Previously, a viral challenge on TikTok, the ‘blackout challenge’, followed this pattern of popular choking challenges too.

A report by The New York Post suggested that a search for ‘scarf game’ on TikTok yielded a message of “no results found”. In fact, the video-sharing application stated under its guidelines, “This phrase may be associated with behaviour or content that violates our guidelines. Promoting a safe and positive experience is TikTok’s top priority. For more information, we invite you to review our Community Guidelines.”