TikTok’s Viral ‘ChatGPT Devil Trend’ Explained After Rice Student Claire Tracy’s Death: ‘The Devil Couldn’t Re – Times Now
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TikTok’s viral ‘ChatGPT Devil Trend’ linked to Rice Student Claire Tracy’s death
Rice University and the wider college community have been shaken by the death of 19-year-old sophomore and soccer player Claire Tracy, whose final TikTok posts referenced a viral challenge known as the “devil trend.” Tracy, a finance major and standout athlete from Wisconsin, died on December 7 and was found in her off-campus apartment, according to local outlet Chron.
Records from the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences later revealed she died from “asphyxia due to oxygen displacement by helium,” ruling the manner of death a suicide.
Tracy had posted several TikTok videos in the days leading up to her death, including one captioned “my version of the devil trend.” The trend involves users messaging friends or AI chatbots with the prompt: “The devil couldn’t reach me, how?” The respondent then gives a brutally honest explanation of the user’s perceived flaws or emotional struggles.
In Tracy’s video, she shared screenshots of her conversation with a chatbot that produced lengthy, introspective replies about the “weight of being alive” and her “unfiltered intelligence.” She added the caption: “In chat we trust, he ain’t wrong.”
A day later, Tracy posted what would become her final TikTok, looking into the camera as the caption read, “Accepting that the big lock in just isn’t going to happen this time.”
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The ‘devil trend’ is a viral TikTok format in which users ask others, or AI programs such as ChatGPT, why “the devil” was able to reach them after first stating, “The devil couldn’t reach me.” The replies are intentionally raw, harsh and introspective, often addressing insecurities or emotional pain. In Tracy’s case, the chatbot responded with reflections about her seeing “too clearly,” thinking “too deeply,” and “chasing meaning” until it became harmful.
Rice University Dean of Undergraduates Bridget K. Gorman confirmed Tracy’s death in a statement on December 8, describing her as having “close friends and a bright spirit.” Rice Women’s Soccer Head Coach Brian Lee also shared condolences, saying she would “forever be in our hearts.” The Houston Police Department and Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences were contacted for further comment, according to PEOPLE.
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Naman is a copy editor at Times Now, with over three years experience in covering US News, politics, global affairs, sports, and other domains. Apart … View More
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