"My friends couldn't wait for me, I fell to the ground"/ 13-year-old suffers a fracture from the "Superman challenge" on TikTok

2024-12-16 21:43:00, Denoncim CNA

"My friends couldn't wait for me, I fell to the ground"/

A long time ago, the sensational game on TikTok, Pokemon Go turned into a global phenomenon with consequences. Young people were seen everywhere suspiciously roaming the streets with phones in hand in an attempt to collect Pokemon. After that, the dangerous game, known as "Blue Whale", led many children to commit suicide.

These days another threat has appeared on TikTok putting children's lives at risk. The "Superman Challenge" or "Superhero" has marked trauma for many TikTok users. The challenge is to lunge forward with an outstretched arm, like the children's character Superman, to be caught or not by friends.

From the dangerous "game" that has spread in Albania, more than 10 young people have been reported injured. Arbri is a 13-year-old and tells "Stop" on TV Klan that he is a victim of this game. He doesn't have a phone, but under the influence of his friends, he indulged in the dangerous game and Arbri broke his hand and damaged his spine.

Arbër: I learned this game from my friends. There were about 7 or 8 of us and we were all playing, there were also injuries to others, but when it was my turn they threw me too high and they couldn't hold me, I fell with my left hand on the ground. This led to my hand injury.

Journalist: So they didn't turn you back, but they threw you in a vertical direction, up or not?

Arbër: Yes, and no one waited for me because they were also afraid that I had gone too high.

Journalist: Were you in the school premises or in the neighborhood?

Arbër: In the school premises, on a long break. Then the officer came but I was a little afraid and didn't tell her that I had killed her with the TikTok game. After a while, my hand continued to swell and the teacher notified my mother, we went straight to the Military Hospital, we found out that I had broken my arm and put my hand in a cast.

Journalist: Did you have other injuries besides the arm that you already have bandaged?

Arbër: Only when I was in the air, I twisted and I have a problem with my back, nothing else.

Journalist: Do you have a phone, Arbër?

Arbër: No, I haven't, my friends just showed me the game.

Reporter: Was this the first game you tried from TikTok?

Arbër: It was my first time, others had tried it before. I want to tell all the kids who see this trend on TikTok, don't play it because it's very dangerous, there are many kids who are hurt, broken legs, knees and hands.

Journalist: On the day you were in the hospital, what happened other than you were treated, what did you see in the hospital?

Arbër: There were many children, they had injured knees, they had broken the knee cap, the ankle and one had broken both hands. That's why I turned to "Stop", I want to tell them to hurt this game.

Psychologist Gejsi Anamali shows how we should communicate with children in such cases, as they are pushed and directed by the crowds at school to become part of the game. While IT expert Tomi Kallanxhi shows that "Family sharing" options are offered on TikTok as a way for parents to monitor their children./ tvklan