INDIANAPOLIS–Your kids may be looking for the next internet challenge. You’re being urged to keep up with what your teenagers are doing. A 15-year-old in Evansville tried the challenge last week. This week his family announced he will not survive and his organs are being donated.

“Please pay attention to what your children look at on social media,” wrote Mason Bogard’s mother on Facebook. “I know our kids always complain that we’re being too overprotective but it’s OK, it’s our job.”

Dr. Cory Showalter, head of the Emergency Dept. at Riley Children’s Health, agrees.

“They probably need a little more supervision and all of us parents can do a better job of watching what our kids are doing online,” he said. Showalter said some parents are spending just as much time on devices as their children.

“It’s hard to tell your kids to get off the device if you’re down on the device yourself. So, I think the first thing is to get off your screens and talk to each other, talk to your kids. Figure out what they’re doing with their day, who their friends are.”

Showalter said kids who are depressed or lonely may be more vulnerable to the peer pressure that often influences kids to take “challenges”.

But, some kids who have tried it may be looking for a brief high.

“The choking challenge has been around for a little bit. But, with YouTube and internet access for kids it’s become more popular. It seems to come in waves,” said the doctor. “Kids will choke each other and experience a hypoxic event where oxygen is decreased. Decreased blood flow to the brain leads to decreased oxygen in the head.”

That can provide a temporary euphoria. But, it also causes unconsciousness.

“I think their friend doesn’t always know they’re unconscious and I think with the internet challenge they’re looking for a bigger thrill…so they might hold on longer.”

The long-term effects could cause seizures and an inability to live a normal life because of the damage that oxygen deprivation can do.

Showalter stressed that kids are not mature and if they are not kept in check by adults, will make bad decisions. Showalter said some adults have also taken the choking challenge. So, it’s sometimes a maturity issue with them. He said the best that parents can do is to monitor online activities and do their best to make sure the kids understand the dangers of bad decision making.