TikTok trend allegedly claims life of 10-year-old in Türkiye, sparks regulation debate

A 10-year-old boy from Izmir, Türkiye, has tragically passed away, allegedly influenced by a dangerous TikTok trend involving flammable cologne.

The child succumbed to his injuries 16 days after being hospitalized.

According to reports, the incident occurred on Dec. 17 while the boy was home alone. After watching videos on TikTok showcasing a trend of igniting cologne, he attempted to recreate the act.

The child poured cologne on himself and lit it with a lighter, but the flames quickly grew uncontrollable, causing severe burns.

After desperately extinguishing the flames, the boy called his family for help. His mother rushed him to the hospital, where doctors fought to save him. Despite their efforts, the boy succumbed to his injuries on Sunday.

Ministry urges for social media regulation for children

In response, the Ministry of Family and Social Services issued a statement on its X post, emphasizing the urgent need for stricter social media regulations. “This heartbreaking incident highlights the critical necessity for enhanced oversight of social media platforms,” the ministry said.

“We remain committed to protecting our children from harmful content and trends,” the ministry added.

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu briefed on Dec. 27 that several ministries, including Family and Social Services, Justice and Interior, are collaborating on a legal framework to regulate children’s access to social media.

“We have reached a significant stage in drafting these regulations, and we aim to finalize them in the early months of next year,” Uraloglu stated.

In 2024, Türkiye had already imposed restrictions on certain popular social media platforms and online games, including Discord and Roblox.