Once celebrated as the epitome of a Christian family, the Duggars captivated over three million viewers with their reality TV show.

At the peak of TLC’s success, known for showcasing remarkable stories from across the nation, “19 Kids and Counting” stood out as its flagship program. The Duggar family, with their extraordinary size, was at the center of it all, drawing widespread admiration and interest.

The potential for spinoffs seemed endless as the Duggar children embarked on their individual journeys toward marriage and parenthood.

However, this idyllic image crumbled when the family became embroiled in a series of sexual misconduct scandals.

It all began to unravel when Joshua Duggar, the family’s eldest son, faced accusations of molesting underage girls, including four of his sisters, during his teenage years. This scandal was followed by his admission of infidelity and culminated in a conviction for downloading child pornography, resulting in a prison sentence of over 12 years.

Now, even more sex abuse accusations have tarnished the devout family’s once-pristine reputation, which often saw them evangelizing and self-praising about their squeaky-clean morals and family values.

Joseph Duggar, a 31-year-old father of four children and the seventh oldest on the show, was arrested on Wednesday on charges accusing him of molesting a then 9-year-old girl during a family vacation in Panama City, Florida in 2020. Duggar appeared in court via Zoom in Arkansas on Friday morning and waived his right to an extradition hearing. 

Additional criminal charges were filed on Friday against Joseph in Washington County, Arkansas, while Joseph’s wife Kendra now also faces new charges as part of the ongoing investigation and was arrested on Friday. The couple are each accused of four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of false imprisonment.

Joseph Duggar was arrested on Wednesday on charges accusing him of molesting a then-9-year-old girl during a family vacation in Panama City, Florida, in 2020

Joseph and his family vacationing in Panama City, Florida in an episode for the TLC series, Counting On

The sexual assault accusation is just one in a long string of controversies for former Arkansas representative Jim Bob Duggar, his wife Michelle and their large brood, who shot to reality TV fame in 2008 when their show, then titled 17 Kids and Counting, first aired on TLC.

According to a Duggar family member, Joseph’s arrest, nearly five years after his older brother Josh was put behind bars, has left parents Jim Bob and Michelle ‘devastated’ and ‘wondering where they went wrong.’

The Duggar family member told the Daily Mail: ‘Their whole lifestyle is about keeping everyone pure and away from immorality, and now it’s happened twice. Lots of soul searching.’

The Duggar family member also said that Jim Bob and Michelle are supporting Joseph during the arrest and had prior knowledge that the incident had happened long before an arrest was imminent. 

They also shared that Jim Bob’s solution was to have spiritual advisors talk to Joseph about sexual sin – similar to how he disciplined Joshua.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Duggar family reps for comment.

The disturbing specter of sexual abuse and the careful shielding of it have been throughlines in the Duggar family’s time in the public eye, a shocking contrast to the family’s wholesome onscreen narratives and the conservative Christian fundamentalist values they espoused.

When it was reported in 2015 that Jim Bob and Michelle’s eldest son had been investigated nine years earlier for fondling underage girls, the 2006 police incident report, which was obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, noted that Josh had told Jim Bob about his actions as early as 2002, confessing three separate times to multiple acts of molestation against five young girls.

According to the police documents, Jim Bob and Michelle waited at least 16 months after Josh’s confessions before contacting the authorities, choosing instead to meet with church elders and sending Josh to a Christian program that consisted of ‘hard physical work and counseling’ for five months.

When Josh returned from the program, Jim Bob and some of their church’s elders took Josh to see Arkansas State Trooper Jim Hutchens, who knew Jim Bob personally. Hutchens, who was later sentenced to 56 years in prison for possession of child pornography, did not make an official report of the abuse. Instead, he cited in an interview with InTouch that Josh and Jim Bob had only told him about one incident, leading him to not file a report with the child abuse hotline. This had far-reaching consequences, with police unable to complete their investigation of Josh in 2006 since the statute of limitations had expired.

The Duggars’ fall from grace began when their eldest son, Joshua Duggar, was accused of molesting underage girls when he was a teenager, a confession of infidelity during the Ashley Madison data breach, and finally, a conviction for downloading child pornography, which landed him more than 12 years in prison

Josh (right) was a rising star in the Conservative Republican movement before his sex scandals derailed his career

Sex abuse accusations have tarnished the devout family’s once-pristine reputation

The police report had only happened because of an email tip that was sent to the Oprah Winfrey Show ahead of a scheduled 2006 appearance for the Duggars. Harpo Studios, which produced the show, forwarded the letter to authorities, which led to the investigation.

In the 2006 incident report, the Duggars told the police that they believed the email happened because a family friend had written a letter about Josh’s actions and placed it in a book, forgetting about it before lending the book to someone else.

The 2015 report that revealed Josh’s past molestations had far-reaching consequences. 

Josh, then a rising star of the conservative right, had been rubbing elbows with Republican power players like Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush, Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee. Josh then resigned from his post as the executive director of the far-right evangelical activist group and think tank the Family Research Council, and issued an apology on the Duggar family’s Facebook page.

‘Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends,’ he wrote.

TLC stopped airing re-runs of 19 Kids and Counting, and after at least 20 companies cut ads from the show, ultimately pulled the plug.

Jim Bob and Michelle appeared on Fox News for an interview with Megyn Kelly, where they defended their handling of the situation and excused the behavior of their son, calling him ‘just a kid’ while saying that his actions were ‘not rape or anything like that.’

They also revealed in the interview that four of the five young girls that Josh molested were his younger sisters: Jill Dillard, Jessa Seewald, Jinger Vuolo and Joy-Anna Forsyth.

In an interview with Jill and Jessa that followed, Jessa defended Josh: ‘I do want to speak up in his defense against people who are calling him a child molester or a pedophile or a rapist, some people are saying. I’m like, that is so overboard and a lie, really. I mean, people get mad at me for saying that but I am like, I can say this, you know? I was one of the victims.’

Jill, in an interview for the documentary Happy Shiny People, later said she felt ‘obligated’ to do ‘for the sake of my parents.’

TLC stopped airing re-runs of 19 Kids and Counting and, after at least 20 companies cut ads from the show, ultimately pulled the plug

In an interview following the 2015 backlash, Jessa (left) defended her brother Josh

Jill (right) said she felt ‘obligated’ to do the interview for her parents 

Then, about a month after TLC canceled 19 Kids and Counting, hackers attacked Ashley Madison, a dating website for extramarital affairs, resulting in a data breach that exposed the personal information of 37 million users of the site. Josh was revealed to have been a paying member of the site, racking up nearly a thousand dollars for two subscriptions.

In a now-deleted statement on the Duggar family website, Josh apologized for ‘viewing pornography’ and being ‘unfaithful to my wife.’

He wrote: ‘I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this became a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife. I am so ashamed of the double life that I have been living and am grieved for the hurt, pain and disgrace my sin has caused my wife and family, and most of all Jesus and all those who profess faith in Him.’ The statement was later edited to remove the reference to pornography before being removed entirely.

In the wake of the backlash, however, the family remained on television, with TLC first airing a special called Breaking the Silence before creating a spinoff for the family in late 2015 with a focus on Jill and Jessa, called Jill & Jessa: Counting On. It was later renamed Counting On and followed the lives of the older Duggar siblings and their respective families.

In a December 2015 episode, Joseph ironically expressed his disappointment in Josh’s ‘secret life,’ noting that it ‘broke his heart.’

‘Whenever somebody you respect the most is willing to get up and proclaim what we believe as Christians, about being true to your wife, you’d never think that that’s the person who’s involved in it,’ Joseph said.

In 2017, Joseph married Kendra Caldwell and welcomed their first child in 2018, two years before the alleged molestation while on a family trip.

The family’s first television appearance on TLC came in 2004 – just two years after Josh initially confessed to Jim Bob that he had molested the girls. In a 2015 interview with Megyn Kelly, Jim Bob defended the family’s decision to pursue reality TV, despite being aware of Josh’s actions at the time.

Joseph (left) and Kendra (right) married in 2018

‘We had nothing to hide,’ he said. ‘When they asked us to do that reality TV show, all of this had been taken care of five years before, and we had a clean bill of health from the state.’

The Duggars have long believed that showing their extensive family on reality TV was a form of evangelism. 

While the family have not claimed to be a part of Quiverfull, a religious movement which eschews contraception and sees large families as a way to increase the conservative Christian population, many people have associated them with it. The group’s name comes from a Bible verse that compares children to ‘arrows,’ making the case that ‘blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.

The Duggars identify as Independent Fundamentalist Baptist and closely follow the teachings of the Institute of Basic Life Principles (IBLP), a nondenominational Christian fundamentalist organization, which advocates for homeschooling, paternal authority and for women to be subservient to their husbands.

The Duggars, avid homeschoolers, were such big supporters of the IBLP that they often appeared at and promoted IBLP conferences and events, both on and off camera. Like the Duggars, however, the organization has been scrutinized in recent years after its founder, Bill Gothard, was accused in 2014 of sexually harassing over 30 women, including four who alleged molestation, one of whom was a minor. Gothard resigned from the ministry in 2014 and denied the sexual harassment and molestation allegations in a now-deleted statement.

The Duggar family appears headed for yet another public trial, both by a courtroom jury and in the court of public opinion

‘God is my witness that I have never kissed a girl, nor touched any young lady in a sensual way,’ he wrote. He was later sued by ten of the victims in 2016; the case was dropped in 2018, with the women’s attorney Jonathan Mincieli declining to give a reason, citing attorney-client privilege.

The Duggars’ time on the small screen officially ended, however, in 2021, after Josh was arrested on charges of receiving and possessing child sex abuse material, including 600 photographs and seven videos. After his arrest, TLC cancelled Counting On. In another blow to the family, Jim Bob, who was running for state senate, lost his primary days after Josh was found guilty in his trial.

In 2022, Josh was sentenced to 12.5 years in federal prison after being convicted of knowingly receiving and possessing child pornography, though Judge Timothy L. Brooks later vacated the possession charge. Josh is currently incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institute in Seagoville, Texas.

As part of Judge Brooks’ ruling, Josh will have 20 years of supervision following his release and will be prohibited from any unsupervised contact with minors, including his own seven children and his siblings.

Now, the Duggar family appears headed for yet another public trial, both by a courtroom jury and in the court of public opinion. 

Joseph appeared in court via Zoom in Arkansas on Friday morning and waived his right to an extradition hearing.  

Later that day, additional criminal charges were filed against him in Washington County, Arkansas, as part of a continuing investigation into the charges that were filed against him earlier in the week in Florida.

His wife Kendra now also faces criminal charges and was arrested on Friday. Both are facing four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree and four counts of false imprisonment in the second degree.

According to a press release from the Tontitown, Arkansas Police Department, the investigation remains ‘active and ongoing.’ The police also noted that ‘Arkansas law strictly limits the information that may be related in cases involving minors and other sensitive circumstances.’

Sister Jill Dillard released a statement on Thursday following Joseph’s arrest.

She wrote: ‘We were shocked yesterday evening to learn of Jill’s brother (Joseph Duggar’s) arrest. We first learned of anything related to his charges yesterday via a text from a friend who messaged us about the recent media reports of Joseph’s arrest and his alleged confession to molesting a juvenile female in 2020. We are shocked and heartbroken.

‘We strongly condemn abuse. We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved. Our hearts go out to the innocent juvenile victim of this unspeakable crime and her family. We pray God gives her strength, comfort and hope, and that she is able to get all the help and support she needs and deserves in the days ahead.’

James Talarico, a Texas Senate contender and former educator, stirred conversation on Thursday by asserting that some of his “most patriotic” students were undocumented immigrants.

In a discussion on “The Bulwark Podcast,” Talarico recounted, “Prior to entering politics, I was a public school teacher in San Antonio, Texas, on the city’s west side. Many of my students were undocumented, and they often demonstrated the highest levels of patriotism.”

The Democratic state legislator elaborated, “These students held a deep appreciation for what this country represents—something that many of us born here might overlook. They saw America as the land of opportunity, where dreams are meant to flourish.”

He continued, highlighting the resilience of these students: “They maintained their faith in this nation, even when it seemed the nation did not have faith in them.”

Talarico, a promising figure in the Democratic Party at 36, did not hold back his criticism of former President Trump’s stringent immigration policies, labeling them “immoral” and “unconscionable.”

“The fact that we have the most powerful politicians in the country terrorizing my former students and their families — people who work hard every day to contribute to this economy and to this country — to me, is immoral. It’s unconscionable. It’s unacceptable, and it has to end,” Talarico said. 

Talarico’s remarks stunned conservatives on social media. 

“This is apparently the message he’s going with to Texas parents,” conservative influencer Western Lensman posted on X. 

Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) argued Talarico “cares more about the illegal aliens fresh over our border than the Texans whose families have been here for generations.” 

“By saying all these things out loud, Talarico is gonna raise even more money than Beto,” conservative talk show host Steve Deace wrote on X, referring to the failed 2018 Texas Democratic Senate candidate, Beto O’Rourke. 

“He’s also gonna lose worse, too,” Deace added. 

“This woke creep has zero chance of ever representing the Lone Star State,” Republican National Committee spokesman Zach Kraft told The Post. “It is stunning to watch James Talarico kamikaze his campaign by openly mocking Texans who love a good steak, worship God, and are patriotic red-blooded Americans.”

In Chicago, the hunt for a new leader of the city’s public school system has narrowed to two contenders after one hopeful withdrew from the race.

Amid this development, there are increasing demands for the mayor to expedite the appointment of a permanent CEO.

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The previous CEO, Pedro Martinez, vacated his position when his contract concluded in June of last year, leading to Macquline King stepping in as interim CEO.

Many are now urging the mayor to consider King for the role on a long-term basis.

As the Board of Education approaches the end of this academic year and begins planning for the next, the question of who will assume the role of permanent CEO remains unresolved.

For the last nine months, King has served in that role, having come up through the ranks at CPS. And supporters say it’s time for her to get the job as the next CEO.

“In her first 60 days as interim CEO, she balanced probably one of the most challenging budgets that CPS has ever endured, with no school cut days, no furlough days, and we did not have to take out a high-interest loan,” Education Committee member Alderman Stephanie Coleman said.

Coleman says those are good reasons for King to be the next CEO.

Last week, the board named three finalists that included King.

Also in the running is Sito Narcisse, who most recently served as superintendent of East Baton Rouge Public Schools.

Meisha Porter, who served as New York City Schools chancellor, withdrew her name after it became public.

“Well, I think she got a close look at the situation we have here, what a mess,” 19th Ward Alderman Matt O’Shea said. “Who would want to come here and take this on?”

There are also calls from Latino leaders in the city for CPS to choose a new CEO with deep experience serving Latinos and immigrants.

The president of the Latino Policy Forum released a statement that said in part, “Nearly half of Chicago Public Schools students are Latino and a significant and growing number are English Learners. … Children and families deserve to see themselves in their leaders. They also deserve leaders who see them, know them, and fight for them.”

“I do hope, within a very short time period, especially considering that one of the candidates has dropped out of the running for CPS leadership, I do hope that the mayor and this administration and the board makes a decision sooner rather than later,” Coleman said.

The two remaining finalists will interview with Mayor Brandon Johnson as well as a community panel of educators, parents and students. But what’s not clear is how quickly that will happen and how soon the Board could meet to vote on a new CEO.

Kendra Duggar was taken into custody on Friday amid new allegations against her husband, Joseph Duggar, who is facing serious charges related to inappropriate conduct with a minor.

The 27-year-old Kendra was arrested in Arkansas on charges of allegedly putting a minor in danger and false imprisonment, according to a report by TMZ.

This arrest follows just two days after her 31-year-old husband was detained over claims that he inappropriately touched a nine-year-old girl.

Initially, when authorities arrived at the Duggar residence in Washington County with an arrest warrant for Kendra, she was not present.

Nevertheless, the Washington County Detention Center has confirmed that Kendra is now in custody.

Daily Mail has reached out to reps for Kendra and Joseph Duggar, but did not immediately hear back.  

Kendra Duggar, 27, was arrested on Friday as husband Joseph Duggar, 31, faces additional charges after he was accused of sexual activity with a nine-year-old girl

She was taken into custody in the state of Arkansas for allegedly endangering the welfare of a minor as well as false imprisonment, per TMZ; her March 20 mugshot seen above 

Kendra and Duggar married in 2017 and the pair are parents to four children. 

Earlier this week on Wednesday, Duggar was arrested in connection with lewd and lascivious behavior involving unlawful sexual activity with a minor, a statement from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Lynn Haven, Florida announced.

An investigator with the Tontitown Police Department in Tontitown, Arkansas reached out to the BCSO ‘regarding a report of past sexual abuse.’

An alleged victim, identified as a 14-year-old girl, told law enforcement about a series of inappropriate incidents Duggar was involved in around five years back, police said.

Authorities said the alleged incidents occurred in 2020, when the alleged victim was nine-years-old and on vacation with her family in Panama City Beach, Florida.

The 19 Kids And County star is now facing additional charges including four counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of second-degree false imprisonment, the Tontitown Police Department told TMZ. 

Duggar and Kendra’s new charges in Arkansas are reportedly not related to his case in the state of Florida. 

He is being held in Arkansas as he awaits extradition back to Florida. 

A warrant for Kendra’s arrest was issued on Friday but when law enforcement initially went to the Duggar family residence in Washington County, she was not there

It comes two days after her husband was arrested in connection with allegations that he touched a nine-year-old girl on her underwear and genitals; his March 18 mugshot seen above

The 19 Kids And County star is now facing additional charges including four counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of second-degree false imprisonment, the Tontitown Police Department told TMZ; Duggar seen above top far right

Family members have since broken silence on his arrest, such as brother Josh – who is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for possessing child pornography. 

His attorney told the Daily Mail, ‘Josh understands the stigma of being accused.

‘He lives with the painful reality of how false accusations can destroy a life. He understands how the targeting of a person for publicity can twist the truth into sensationalized fiction.’ 

The attorney said that the brothers ‘are not in frequent communication’ but Josh ‘hopes and prays for his brother’s well being in this difficult time.’ 

His sister Jill has also spoken out by uploading a post to her family blog which she shares with husband Derick Dillard. 

‘We were shocked yesterday evening to learn of Jill’s brother’s [Joseph Duggar’s] arrest,’ the message read. 

‘We first learned of anything related to his charges yesterday via a text from a friend who messaged us about the recent media reports of Joseph’s arrest and his alleged confession to molesting a juvenile female in 2020. We are shocked and heartbroken.’ 

They added, ‘We strongly condemn abuse. We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved. Our hearts go out to the innocent juvenile victim of this unspeakable crime and her family.

Family members have since broken silence on his arrest , such as brother Josh – who is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for possessing child pornography; Josh’s 2021 mugshot seen above 

Jill and Derick also sent love to Kendra and her four children in the post shared on Thursday, just one day before her arrest

‘We pray God gives her strength, comfort and hope, and that she is able to get all the help and support she needs and deserves in the days ahead.’ 

Jill and Derick also sent love to Kendra and her four children while praying ‘that they feel loved and supported during this time as we cannot imagine the indescribable pain they feel as they process and grieve everything.’

The post was uploaded on Thursday, just one day before Kendra’s arrest for allegedly endangering the welfare of a minor and false imprisonment. 

Duggar’s mugshot was released on Wednesday evening by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Fayetteville, Arkansas. 

The former reality star sported a thick beard, and he gazed forward with a stony expression, which notably contrasted the grinning 2021 mugshot of his brother Josh, which had also been snapped in Washington County. 

The alleged victim told investigators that the family had been staying at a home located on Danny Drive at the time of the illegal incidents. 

Joseph Duggar ‘repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap,’ BCSO officials said, adding that his behavior appeared to escalate as the vacation continued.

In another incident, Joseph ‘asked [the victim] to sit next to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket, ‘rubbing’ his hands on her thighs.

Joseph Duggar ‘repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap,’ BCSO officials said, adding that his behavior appeared to escalate as the vacation continued

‘During this time, Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals.’

Duggar subsequently told the alleged victim he was sorry, and the incidents ceased, according to officials with the BCSO.

The father of the alleged victim confronted Joseph Duggar about what happened on Tuesday, at which time he admitted to his actions to the father and a detective in Tontitown, the BCSO said. 

Joseph Duggar was subsequently arrested and charged in connection with Lewd and Lascivious Behavior – Molestation of a Victim Less Than 12-years-old; and Lewd and Lascivious Behavior Conducted By A Person 18 Years or Older.

Duggar’s confession to the girl’s father and a detective was included in an affidavit filed by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, which was obtained by People.

BCSO Criminal Investigator Chase Norris had then ‘requested the detective and victim’s father call the defendant.’ 

During the phone call, Duggar ‘admitted his actions’ and confessed that he ‘touched the victim over her clothing,’ per the affidavit. 

At the time, the TV personality had ‘admitted his intentions were not pure.’ 

His cousin Amy Duggar also recently broke her silence to share she was ‘utterly shocked’ but ‘not surprised’ over his arrest. 

She said in a statement to People on Friday: ‘In light of the recent allegations involving my cousin, Joseph Duggar, I am sickened, heartbroken and deeply angry.’ 

Amy added, ‘My first thoughts are with the victim, a child who deserved to be safe, protected and surrounded by people she could trust.

‘The courage it took for her to come forward, especially after years of carrying something so heavy, cannot be overstated. That bravery deserves to be honored above all else.’ 

She said in a statement to People on Friday: ‘In light of the recent allegations involving my cousin, Joseph Duggar, I am sickened, heartbroken and deeply angry’

And while she was ‘utterly shocked’ over the allegations, Amy expressed that she is ‘not surprised that another alleged predator has emerged from this toxic system.’

Amy told the outlet that she has ‘worked hard to break cycles in both my extended family and my immediate family.’

She sent prayers to the alleged victim while adding, ‘Recognizing that we do not yet know the full picture, I am also praying for Joseph’s wife, Kendra, as she begins to process this, and for the protection of their children. 

‘I’m praying for eyes to be opened and above all, I pray that justice will be served to the fullest.’

For those who have been impacted by sexual abuse, text ‘STRENGTH’ to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. 

A tragic incident in Texas has claimed the life of a young girl who accidentally strangled herself while attempting a dangerous social media challenge known as the “blackout challenge.” Her grieving family is now speaking out, hoping to raise awareness about the perilous trend that has gained traction online.

JackLynn Blackwell, a 9-year-old from Stephenville, Texas, lost her life on February 3 after choking herself in her family’s backyard, as reported by CBS News.

“She went outside to play, as she usually does,” recounted her father, Curtis Blackwell, in an interview with CBS News. “I noticed it was unusually quiet—quieter than it should have been.”

Curtis described the heart-wrenching moment he discovered his daughter. “I saw her near the carport and caught sight of her hair. I called out, ‘JackLynn!’ Initially, I thought she was bending over, playing as she often did in that spot. But tragically, she wasn’t playing.”

“Then I saw her kind of around the corner that goes to the carport, saw her hair. I said, ‘JackLynn!’ I thought she was bending over playing ’cause she was always in that area playing, but she wasn’t playing.”

The father quickly went to check on his daughter, who was found motionless with a cord wrapped around her neck.

JackLynn Blackwell was killed while participating in the viral “blackout challenge” circulating on social media, according to reports. (iStock)

“I tried to do everything I could to save her,” Curtis Blackwell told the outlet. “I got her off the cord. I tried to give her CPR until the first responders got there. It was the most terrifying, shocking thing I’ve ever seen.”

The incident unfolded after JackLynn showed her grandmother a video of the online challenge in which children and teens film themselves intentionally being choked to the point of blacking out or experiencing a euphoric “high,” according to CBS.

JackLynn Blackwell died in the backyard of her family’s Stephenville, Texas home – located approximately 70 miles from Fort Worth. (iStock)

“It was horrible to see my daughter in such a vulnerable state because of something so senseless.”

In light of their daughter’s tragic death, JackLynn’s parents are slamming social media companies for allowing such dangerous videos to circulate on their platforms, CBS reported.

“It’s not a joke, it’s not a game, it’s life and death,” Curtis Blackwell said, according to the outlet.

“Most of the kids are like 9 years old to 14 years old. A lot of kids her age, their brains aren’t fully developed, and they are very easily influenced.”

Approximately 80 children have died from the online trend, according to the CDC, CBS reported.

Several social media companies are reportedly blocking videos related to the deadly challenge or issuing warnings to viewers who search for related keywords.

However, the warnings are too late for JackLynn’s grieving parents, who are looking to hold social media companies accountable for the videos posted to their platforms. 

“You could check on your kid, it could be kid-friendly videos, and then three minutes later it could be totally something dark because of the algorithms they start creating,” Curtis Blackwell told CBS. “There’s too many of these kids lost for these companies not to be held accountable in my eyes.”