Bengaluru: “I heard that the game takes away fears from us making us daring and adventurous. Sharing the heroic news of completing each task on Facebook and Instagram is something that I look forward to once I start playing.” Thanks to the monthly examinations at school, which delayed the youngster from taking up the challenge and the latest decision of the central government clamping down on the deadly game, a young life in the city has been probably saved.
The Blue Whale Game, also known as the Blue Whale Challenge, has been hitting headlines since sometime now for the suspicious design which requires the player to complete certain tasks for a period of 50 days which finally leads to suicide. The player is also asked to share pictures after each task which ranges from watching a horror movie alone late night to tasks that lead to self-mutilation.
The game, believed to have had its origin in 2013 at Russia, came into broader use earlier this year making its way even to the Indian subcontinent, luring depressed and introverted youngsters.
According to psychologist Dr Vijayashri Ravi, the false power offered in the virtual world is the intriguing factor youngsters fall for, pretty easily. “The novelty factor tagged along with such apps and games when read with the addiction to technology and the wanting to belong within youngsters summed up together create a dangerous impact. When social approval is rising up as a big necessity nowadays, youngsters tend to fall for easy ways to get fame, mainly on social media,” she said.
For school managements who were on their toes to avoid such undesirable situations from taking place, the move by the government comes as a huge relief. “The decision by the government to hold social networking websites responsible is a welcome move. Constant dialogue and awareness for students as well as their parents by holding expert talks and counselling sessions are essential to ensure no harm is done along these lines as being tech-savvy is still a necessity nowadays,” said Manju Balasubramaniam, Principal, Delhi Public School (North).
Parents, at the same time, are worried of such technological developments eating into the personal life of their kids are on the rise, leaving them minimal chances of recognizing what their wards are actually going through.
“If not for Blue Whale, something else would have started making its roots already among youngsters. We are at a fix now whether to give them complete privacy or to constantly keep an eye out on their actions, which in turn would make them feel uncomfortable even at home,” says Vineeth S., a father of two teenagers.
He ascertains that creating a welcoming atmosphere at home and lending a listening ear always would bring down chances of children falling into such traps.
