All online teen crazes are bad, imo, but particularly when they claim the lives or otherwise inflict serious damage on the teens participating in them.
A 13-year-old Brisbane boy has died after taking part in an online choking craze called ‘The Good Boys Game‘ (because it doesn’t involve drugs and/or alcohol) and accidentally asphyxiating himself to death.
Neither the boy nor the school have been named in the media at his parents’ request.
The teenager’s north Brisbane Catholic school broke the news on Monday in an email to parents warning them about the dangerous games’ resurgence.
“As it raises its terrible ugly head on the internet it becomes more prevalent and then it wanes away again,” said Secondary Principals’ Association president Andrew Pierpoint.
“I think there needs to be high levels of communication in schools about safe behaviours. I know that parents would be and should be having those conversations around the dinner table.”
The teenager was a keen cricket and footy player, with clubs posting tributes to him on Facebook.
“He was our club umpire of the year in 2016 and because of his amazing talent was promoted to an AFLBJ umpire,” his football club (which PEDESTRIAN.TV has chosen not to name) wrote on Facebook. “He played a total of 142 games for the [the club]. His family has our deepest sympathy at this very sad time.”
The Good Boys Game – where participants choke themselves to create a temporary euphoria, then post videos on the internet – has claimed the lives of at least eight youths in the UK since 2010, according to the Mirror.
Last year, Karnel Haughton, 12, from the UK, was found in his bedroom after playing the game and was unable to be revived.
Photo: Facebook / Brisbane Junior Cricket Association.
