Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is taking steps to penalize individuals who entice minors into dangerous stunts, such as so-called “Blackout Challenges,” by submitting a federal council initiative addressing this threat. The state’s Minister of Justice, Jacqueline Bernhardt, announced on Thursday that Lower Saxony has joined this initiative.
The dangers associated with these activities are starkly illustrated by recent local incidents. The Ministry reported that a young man was recently hospitalized after a classmate choked him unconscious on the schoolyard. This act was allegedly performed solely to create a video for the “Blackout Challenge.” Furthermore, in a separate case, a mother filed a police report after her two children were independently choked. Bernhardt stressed that these are not harmless daredevil acts. She warned that oxygen deprivation can lead to severe injuries, permanent damage, and even death in a matter of moments.
These dangerous stunts primarily originate in social networks, chats, and other digital environments, where harmful actions are presented as tests of courage. In these online spheres, the pursuit of likes, attention, and visibility acts as a perceived reward. According to the Minister, these kinds of messages are directed at children and teenagers who may not yet be able to assess risks, manipulation, and peer pressure with the same level of judgment as adults.
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern plans to formally submit the motion-“penalizing the inducement of minors to self-harm through digital media”-to the Federal Council on Friday. However, Bernhardt clarified that the focus is not on the children and youth who view or mimic these challenges. Instead, the law is targeted at those who deliberately influence, initiate, or exploit dangerous dynamics to compel minors to inflict serious self-harm.
They are urging the federal government to consider establishing a distinct criminal offense for pressuring minors into self-harm. This law would specifically address the targeted manipulation of minors with the intent of driving them toward suicide or other significant self-injury.
