BREAKING NEWS: Local Teen Dies After 48-Hour Social Media Challenge—Parents Sound Alarm on Dangerous Trend
Springfield, IL – May 6, 2025
A 16-year-old high school student, Jacob Miller, has died after taking part in a viral online challenge that urged participants to stay awake for 48 hours straight.
Jacob was found unresponsive in his room early Monday morning, just hours after completing the so-called “No Sleep Survival Test,” a dangerous trend spreading across social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Friends say he had been livestreaming the challenge and interacting with followers throughout the weekend.
“He thought it was just a game,” said his mother, Angela Miller. “He didn’t realize how serious the consequences could be.”
Paramedics arrived on the scene shortly after 7 a.m., but Jacob was pronounced dead. Preliminary reports suggest sleep deprivation, compounded by dehydration and stress, may have caused sudden cardiac failure. An autopsy is pending.
Local authorities are warning families to monitor what their children are watching and sharing online. “This is a wake-up call,” said Police Chief Marla Jensen. “Social media isn’t just entertainment anymore—it’s influencing real-life decisions, and in this case, a tragic loss of life.”
Jacob was a sophomore at Lincoln High School, where counselors are now available for grieving students. A candlelight vigil will be held Thursday night in his memory.
In the aftermath, parents across the country are calling for stricter oversight of online content, demanding platforms take responsibility for harmful trends.
Jacob leaves behind his parents and 11-year-old sister.
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