A 13-year-old boy from Ohio has tragically passed away after participating in a risky TikTok challenge that involved consuming a large amount of Benadryl, as reported by a local news outlet and a family fundraising page. Jacob Stevens was at home with friends when he took the antihistamine as part of the challenge. He was placed on a ventilator for nearly a week before succumbing to his condition.
The exact cause of Jacob's death has not been independently verified by CNN. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had previously warned in 2020 about the dangers of the "Benadryl Challenge" on TikTok, highlighting risks such as severe heart issues, seizures, coma, or even death.
Jacob’s grandmother is actively working to prevent other children from attempting the challenge, as she shared with a local news station. TikTok expressed condolences to the family and emphasized their commitment to community safety by removing content that promotes dangerous activities. They stated that they have not seen this type of content trending on their platform and have taken measures to block related searches to prevent imitation. TikTok's safety team, consisting of 40,000 professionals, is dedicated to enforcing community guidelines and encourages users to report concerning content.
Johnson & Johnson, the company behind Benadryl, has labeled the challenge as hazardous. They issued a statement acknowledging the misuse of diphenhydramine and stressed that their products should only be used as instructed on the label. The company is collaborating with TikTok and other social media platforms to eliminate content promoting this behavior and is seeking partnerships to address the issue.
The FDA had previously urged TikTok to remove such videos and to remain vigilant in monitoring new uploads. Benadryl, an antihistamine, is intended to alleviate symptoms like runny nose or sneezing due to allergies or colds and is safe when used as directed. The FDA advises that Benadryl and other medications should be kept out of children's reach.