A Nigerian family living in southern California has been thrown into mourning after they found their 13-year-old Nnamdi Glenn Ohaeri Jr., dead in his room.
He was believed to have attempted a dangerous social media challenge similar to past trends that have claimed multiple young lives.
The parents found Nnamdi unresponsive in his bedroom in Murrieta on the morning of February 3, just a day after they all watched the Grammy Awards as a family.
Nnamdi’s mum quickly performed CPR while his father, Nnamdi Ohaeri Sr., called a neighbor and emergency services.
Unfortunately, the boy never made it.
The boy was initially believed to have committed suicide, but his parents were unconvinced and began their own investigation.
They soon found clues that suggested that their son may have been influenced by a hazardous social media challenge that dares participants to render themselves unconscious.
The strange challenge, just like the “Blackout Challenge,” has been linked to several deaths in recent years, raising concerns among parents and authorities.
Ohaeri Jr’s parents did not allow him to keep social media accounts, and his phone was equipped with strict parental controls.
The parents now suspect he learned about the challenge from classmates or friends.
They have volunteered to openly share their tragic story to serve as a warning to other parents.
They called on families to be vigilant about the content and trends their children may be exposed to, whether online or through peer influence.
Ohaeri Sr. expressed regrets that he had only concentrated on educating his sons about the dangers of drugs, and not the risks of social media challenges.
“We don’t talk about not following social media trends or playing social media games,” he said. “And maybe we need to.”
They encouraged more parents to have open conversations with their children about the hidden dangers of social media and peer pressure.
