Teenager died after inhaling 12 aerosol cans as part of a social media trend.

A London family has been warning about the risks teenagers face due to dangerous trends they encounter on social media, such as 'chroming,' a challenge in which minors inhale chemical fumes while inviting other users to do the same.

In this regard, on June 27, 2024, a 13-year-old boy, identified as Nicky Lowther, was one of the fatal victims of this practice, after his mother found him unconscious on the floor of his room.

According to information revealed by the woman to local media outlets, none of her loved ones were aware that the teenager was actively involved in certain digital platform trends.

Despite this, he emphasized that one afternoon he entered his son's room and noticed that the child had fainted for no apparent reason, so he immediately decided to take him to the nearest hospital.

However, when he arrived at the medical center, specialists told him that Nicky no longer had vital signs and that, according to tests, the young man had inhaled a large amount of chemical vapor, which has harmful effects on health.

After hearing the doctor's words, one of his aunts returned to the home to check the boy's room and found around 12 aerosol cans that he had allegedly used to record content for his social media accounts.

While family members were unable to determine how often the young man engaged in these practices, they now remember him as a much-loved teenager and , in his memory, warn about the risks posed by dangerous trends on digital platforms.

According to St. Louis Children's Hospital in the United States, the chrome plating challenge is often popular among younger TikTok and Snapchat users, as they are constantly motivated to inhale the fumes produced by solvents, aerosols, or other chemicals.

This particular trend poses significant health risks to minors and anyone who practices it, as it causes neurological damage, cardiac complications, respiratory problems, and increased levels of organ toxicity.

Accordingly, the pediatric institution recommends taking certain preventive measures to reduce the number of cases of chroming, such as informing children about the consequences , storing household products that pose a danger, or monitoring changes in adolescent behavior.

DIGITAL REACH EDITORIAL