11-Year-Old Boy Dies After Attempting Viral TikTok ‘Chroming’ Challenge

In a demonstration of the harmful effects of social media, an 11-year-old boy from the U.K. recently died after performing the viral “chroming” TikTok challenge.

The Times of London reported that Tommie-Lee Gracie Billington went into cardiac arrest and died at a friend’s home in Lancaster on March 2, 2024.

Tommie-Lee’s grandmother, Tina Burns, told the outlet, “He died instantly after a sleepover at a friend’s house. The boys had tried the TikTok craze ‘chroming.’ Tommie-Lee went into cardiac arrest immediately and died right there and then. The hospital did everything to try and bring him back, but nothing worked. He was gone.”

“He had a heart of gold just like his dad. Our family is utterly devastated,” Burnes added.

On Facebook, Burnes wrote, “Never felt pain like this. I just love you so much mate. My baby boy, you will be forever in my heart. I will make sure to the best of my ability that your name and your beautiful face will become the reason that other children’s lives will be saved and other families don’t have to suffer this deep, deep hurt.”

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center defines chroming as inhaling aerosol paint, among other chemical products, to achieve a state of mental euphoria.

“Hydrocarbons are present in many different household products, including aerosol paint, paint thinner, motor fuel, and glue,” the medical center warns.

“People may inhale the chemicals in different ways — breathing in the fumes directly or using something like a bag or rag,” it adds.

Tommie-Lee’s tragic death comes after Forbes reported that nearly 700,000 children died from inhaling toxic chemicals in 2015. In 2023, 1.8 million adolescents performed chroming.

The Australia-based Royal Children’s Hospital warns that chroming could lead to hallucinations, impulsive behavior, depression, headaches, dizziness, seizures, palpitations, shortness of breath and sudden death.

After her grandson’s death, Burnes urged social media companies to “do more,” adding, “We don’t want any other children to follow TikTok or be on social media.”

In the U.S., concerns over social media’s impact on children have increased. In February 2023, a poll by the Knight Foundation and Ipsos showed that 86% of Americans are concerned about social media’s impact on kids’ mental health.