How to protect your child from Blue Whale Challenge, TN Police issues advisory

Virtual trap: The Blue Whale game involves multiple challenges, like carving the image of a whale on the forearm. Photo for representational purpose.

The Tamil Nadu Police has issued the following advisory in a bid to create awareness of Blue Whale Challenge.

The online game has claimed the life of a youth in Madurai , and reports of youngsters harming themselves as part of "challenge" has been coming from rest of the country as well.

The Madras High Court recently took up the case suo motu and directed the Central and State governments to take action to curb the online gane that has turned into a social menace.

Full text of the Advisory

The “Blue Whale Game” also known as “Blue Whale Challenge” is an Internet Game that consists of series of dangerous tasks assigned to its players, for a period of 50 days, with the final challenge being committing suicide. This game targets mostly teenagers and young adults who aspire to achieve something big.

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The dangerous tasks includes “Waking up at 04.20 am”, “Watching horror videos alone”, “Inflict self-injury”, drawing picture of whale and then carving the same onto their forearm or legs”, “climbing up the roof, crane etc.,” and encouraging them to tag their friends on social media so as to challenge them to participate in the game.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR CHILD/STUDENT:

A)Look out for the following symptoms and activities in your child/Student:

1. Becoming withdrawn from friends and family
2. Persistent low mood and unhappiness
3. Sudden outbursts and anger directed at themselves or others
4. Loss of interest in activities that they used to enjoy
5. Late night surfing
6. Spending more time on internet
7. Concealing on line activity
8. Unusual injuries on the body

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Blue Whale a disaster, says teen’s suicide note

 

B) Parental Control :

Know, Prevent and Protect.

1. Monitor your child’s Social Media activity and ensure that they are allowed to access them only when you are convinced that they are matured enough to handle them.
2. Monitor your kid’s search history of internet and get useful insights. They will help you to see the state of mind of your kid.
3. View your child’s text messages, call logs, communications via Facebook, Snapchat, WhatsApp, etc. Moreover, try to limit apps usage and block the sites which promote dangerous activities.
4. Children, who have entered the game, might have depression or even have suicidal thoughts. Recognize any changes in your kid’s behavior that may point out depression or any other mental problem.
5. Parents may be advised to change the settings in “PLAYSTORE” and activate parental control for 3 + games permission alone.
6. Spend more time with your children and encourage them to participate in outdoor games.