Social media has become a playground for kids in this hyper digital world. But beneath the fun filters and upbeat music lies a dark side, where trends that lure young minds turn into tragedy without a second thought.
Chroming is one such trend that has claimed lives, turning bedrooms into tragedy zones. Parents watch helplessly as warnings fall on deaf ears, while platforms keep pushing content that normalizes risk.
What is the Chroming Trend
Chroming, also called huffing, involves inhaling toxic fumes from household items like deodorant, paint, or glue to get a brief high. Popular on TikTok under tags like #WhipTok, it tricks users into thinking everyday products are safe, but they contain deadly chemicals like butane. According to CBS News, experts warn it can cause blackouts, heart issues, seizures, or sudden death, even from one try.
Freddie Davis passed away following the chroming trend
An 11-year-old boy named Freddie Davis passed away in January 2025 after trying the dangerous “chroming” trend, despite his mother’s direct warnings.
Pathologist Dr. Liina Palm ruled Freddie’s cause as “inhalation of butane aerosol propellant,” with toxicologist John Slaughter finding propane, butane, and isobutane in his tissues, matching the can’s contents, according to the East London Coroners’ Court inquest, per LADbible report.
According to a LADbible report, he is described as an outgoing child who loved sports and learning, but was found unresponsive by his mom, Roseanne Thompson, one morning. A coroner’s inquest recently confirmed that inhaling fumes from a Ted Baker body spray aerosol caused his death.
Roseanne had noticed the chroming videos online and switched Freddie to roll-on deodorant after spotting an empty spray can in just a day.
Heartbroken, she shared to LADbible, “I went into his room to wake him up. I opened the door and called out ‘Fred’ as I do most mornings. I could see he was lying on his front with his face down… I put my hand on his shoulder and noticed he was colder than usual. I called out for help and said ‘I think Fred has gone. ’ I dialled 999 and said to the operator ‘I think my son is dead’”
His mother now issues warnings!
Roseanne said to LADbible , “Children are easily led and they do not realise the dangers. I wouldn’t even risk bringing aerosols anywhere near my family now… These things do kill people”. She issued a stark warning: “Aerosols do kill”, as told to Daily Mail.
Public health adviser Ashley Martin from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents explained to the CBS News, “It’s easy to assume they are completely safe… Inhaling large quantities of aerosols… can lead to… blackouts and breathing difficulties, to heart rhythm changes and sadly, death. There’s a common misconception that fatalities… only happen in a substance abuse scenario, but this is absolutely not true”.
Pittsburgh doctor Anthony Pizon added that chroming risks suffocation, cardiac arrest, kidney damage, and more, fueled by TikTok appeal.
