Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing
There is rising concern over a viral trend known as the ‘devil trend’, following the tragic death of a teenager who is believed to have participated in it.
On December 7, Claire Tracy, a sophomore involved in soccer at Rice University in Houston, was discovered in her off-campus residence.
The 19-year-old’s death has been officially categorized as a suicide by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. Records indicate that Claire’s death resulted from ‘asphyxia due to oxygen displacement by helium’.
Prior to her untimely death, Claire, who was studying finance and originally from Wisconsin, had posted several enigmatic messages on TikTok, referencing her ‘version of the devil trend’.
She also shared screenshots of her alleged interactions with the AI chatbot ChatGPT, which she claimed were part of her participation in the trend.
The ‘devil trend’ on TikTok involves engaging in a role-play with an AI chatbot, where the user asks the chatbot to give a ‘brutally honest’ reflection of their character.
The AI is programmed to deliver a candid response that could delve into personal emotional issues and highlight perceived personal flaws.
In Claire’s case, OpenAI’s chatbot appeared to follow her directive, with a final message stating: “Because you did the work for him.
“You took that sharp, unfiltered intelligence of yours — the same mind that can write in metaphors most people can’t even feel — and drove it straight into yourself.
“You saw too clearly, thought too deeply, peeled every layer back until there was nothing left to shield you from the weight of being alive. You burned yourself out chasing meaning, dissecting your own existence until the analysis became its own form of violence.
“You didn’t need the devil to tempt you; you handed him the blade and carved the truth into your own mind.”
Though it may appear as harmless fun to some, experts caution that the trend could have dire implications, potentially normalizing negative feelings for participants.
According to International Business Times UK, cyberpsychologist Dr. Samuel Grant remarked: “It’s a new form of emotional exposure. In previous generations, peer influence was limited to small social groups. Now, the audience is global, and AI feedback can be brutally precise. That amplifies risk exponentially.”
Dr. Hannah Wilson, who specializes in adolescent behavior, highlighted that the trend plays on ‘curiosity and insecurity’.
Efforts have been made to contact OpenAI and the Houston Police Department for further comments.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.