Photo for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

Experts in the UAE have raised concerns over viral social media trends that seriously harm children. Parents should keep an eye out for their children's involvement in "strange activities," the experts advised. The concerns were raised after a TikTok trend called the 'blackout challenge' went viral, wherein young people hold their breath until they pass out. This challenge was making headlines worldwide in 2021 after two girls in the United States died after taking part in the challenge, prompting parents to sue the platform. "Parents need to set boundaries about Internet usage. They should also have an open dialogue and honest conversations with children about Internet safety," said Dr. Nada Omer Mohamed Elbashir, a psychiatrist at Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi. Adults should help young people to comprehend the guidelines better by providing a good example and showing them how to use social media responsibly, Dr. Elbashir added. BKM/ Expat Media
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