What Is Chroming? Social Media Trend Claims Life Of 11-Year-Old

Are social media trends becoming fatal? A TikTok trend that was presumed to be a social media psychosis in many adolescents and teenagers has turned out to be deadly. In what is termed as 'chroming', an 11-year-old boy from the UK succumbed to the social media trend during a sleepover. The death occurred due to a cardiac arrest allegedly caused by the activity. 

Chroming has resulted in the tragic death of an 11-year-old boy Tommie-Lee Gracie Billington from the UK. The young boy reportedly attempted the challenge at a friend's house during a night stay that resulted in his spot death due to cardiac arrest, despite being immediately rushed to the hospital and doctors' efforts to revive him, he succumbed to death, and as claimed by his grandfather, "he died there and then."

What is Chroming?

Chroming is the latest TikTok trend that involves inhaling harmful fumes from household products like paint thinners, deodorants, lighter fluid, gasoline, hairspray, aerosol, paint thinners,  permanent markers, spray paints or cleaning supplies in an attempt to get high.

Also referred to as "huffing" or "dusting," that allegedly creates a "euphoric effect" is a dangerous practice that can lead to serious health problems such as dizziness, slurred speech, hallucinations, nausea, disorientation, cardiac arrest (as suspected in this case), and even brain damage. 

The term chroming likely comes from the chrome-like appearance of some aerosol cans used in this practice. Another version of chroming involves inhalation of 'whippits' (laughing gas or hippy cracks) with cartridges filled with nitrogen oxide.

Effects Of Chroming

As these chemicals are inhaled as per the trend, these drugs are absorbed by the bloodstream and through the lungs and can even affect various organs of the body. These inhalants used in the trend cause cognitive abnormalities ranging from mild impairments to severe dementia. 

Regular inhalation and long-term exposure to these toxic inhalants lead to high rates of depression, anxiety, more likely experiencing stressful events, and other effects of substance abuse issues. It also results in lower IQ, inability to concentrate, impaired judgement or even memory loss.

Social Media Psychosis: How Chroming Exposed a Deadly Trend

The death of a young boy due to chroming is a stark reminder that the Wild West of social media needs stricter regulations. Chroming, inhaling fumes from household chemicals for a supposed high, is the latest deadly trend to infiltrate online spaces.

Social media platforms are breeding grounds for trends, some are fun and harmless, while others are downright dangerous. The responsibility of curating content and preventing the spread of harmful challenges falls squarely on these platforms. Shouldn't they be held accountable for content that can have lethal consequences, especially for impressionable young minds?

Not The First Case

The case of Tommie-Lee is not the first case of death from the 'chroming' trend as, in March 2023, an Australian teenager named Esra Haynes similarly went into cardiac arrest at a friend's sleepover trying the trend. After 8 days of life support, Haynes experienced brain damage, which led her family to remove her from life support leading to her ultimate demise. 

Reports from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration outlined a total number of 684,000 adolescents aged between 12 to 17 huffed or inhaled toxic chemicals in 2015, and a total of 1.8 million adolescents from 12 and older age groups participating in these practices in the same year. And around one in five kids have used these inhalants by grade eighth. 

Social Media's Role and Call for Action

While the specific platform where the 11-year-old encountered chroming is unclear, the incident highlights the dangers of viral social media challenges. The boy's family has spoken out, urging social media companies to take stricter measures to prevent the spread of such harmful trends and protect children.