The government has asked Google, Facebook and Whatsapp, amongst others to remove links for the Blue Whale Challenge game. The Blue Whale challenge has been linked to various suicides of children in India and other countries
The Indian government has started taking action against the lethal online game called the Blue Whale Challenge. The game came into limelight as children in India started committing suicide to fulfill the game’s final challenge. According to a report by PTI, on August 11, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MEITY) issued a circular to Google, Facebook, Whatsapp and other internet majors to ‘immediately remove’ any links related to the dangerous Blue Whale Challenge.
The notice said, “It is understood that an administrator of the game uses social media platform to invite or incite children to play this game, which may eventually lead the child to extreme steps for self-inflicting injuries including suicide,” the report continued, “You (Google, Facebook, Whatsapp, etc.) are hereby required to ensure that any such link of this deadly game in its own name or any similar game is immediately removed from your platform.”
The Blue Whale Challenge is a dangerous game that plays with a person’s psyche. It is mainly targeted at teenagers who are mentally vulnerable and susceptible to compulsions. Recently, a 14-year old boy from Mumbai committed suicide in order to complete the Blue Whale Challenge. A 13-year old boy from Indore and another 16-year old teen from Kerala have also tried to commit suicide due to the deadly game. This despicable challenge has claimed the lives of nearly 130 people in Europe and Russia so far, and has been gaining traction in India too.
In order to safeguard yourself from it, just stay away from it and avoid it. Do not let your curiosity get the best of you in this case. If you notice any unusual activities amongst your friends, it's best to report it to an adult, like your parents or teachers etc. Parents also need to keep themselves educated and updated regarding this game as the Blue Whale Challenge is designed to drain one's self confidence, and leave them in a state of depression where one thinks suicide is the only way. You can read more about the Blue Whale Challenge and how to be safe here.
Follow Us
Shubham Sharma
Interested in tech, gaming, cyber-security, anime, and more View Full Profile
