The Blue Whale Challenge, a dark online game, has been all over the news and the internet, of late.

The game gained prominence in India, after newspaper reports mentioned that an adolescent who had allegedly been playing this game in Mumbai, ended his life. Since then, there have been similar reports of suicides as a result of this game from other parts of the country. As a parent, you may be worried as to what this game entails and if and how your child can be vulnerable to the same. Read on to find out more.

What is it?

The Blue Whale Challenge is a suicide game where the player is given various tasks to be done by the curator of the game (The curator is a point of contact assigned to each player, who then tells the player what their next task is and pushes them to keep completing one self-harming task after the other). The challenges range from tasks that cause mild to moderate discomfort, to more serious life-threatening acts that the person has to undergo on a day-to-day basis. Players who once start playing this game are pressured against dropping out, and may be bullied and blackmailed into completing it to the very end.

Who is vulnerable?

• According to experts, teenagers and young adults are most likely to succumb to such online games because the virtual world offers them a platform where they can act freely, with greater privacy than is offered to them in the offline world
• Adolescents and young adults who have a lower self esteem (an evaluation of one’s self – either being positive or negative or even low or high.) are more vulnerable as they might have lower feelings of self-worth as compared to those who are more confident about themselves
• Those with a high need for approval from others around can also become hooked to such dangerous games, as completing each task gets them feedback from the curator, who encourages them to do the next one.
• Those who feel helpless about the way things are going in their lives, often may resort to self-harming behaviour or games such as this one as it might help them to feel more in control over their bodies and the direction in which their life is headed
• Those who have self-harmed or attempted suicide in the past, or have a history of mental illness, are certainly more vulnerable than those who have not

What to look for as a parent?

The following signs can point to distress though they may not necessarily indicate that your child is playing The Blue Whale Challenge. Nonetheless, it is a good idea to intervene as a parent when you notice that your child:

• Spends a large amount of time on their gadgets, of late. Also, their intensity of craving for gadgets has increased in the past few weeks.
• Has injuries or marks on arms or thighs which they are unwilling to talk about/trying to hide
• Shows drastic changes in eating and sleeping habits. (Note: They may be drowsy in the morning as most of these challenges involve waking up at odd hours in the middle of the night)
• Has started watching horror movies or content that is highly disturbing or graphic in nature, recently.
• Shows sudden bursts of anger or other emotional changes
• Starts spending time alone on terraces or in their rooms.
• Stays by themselves for a prolonged period of time and stops interacting with family and friends

What can you do as a parent?

As parents, your intervention in the right manner can be absolutely crucial. Here are some things you can do:

• Be more aware of how they are feeling: If they are experiencing any kind of emotional changes off late. You could also keep an eye out for signs showing lack of interest in their studies or other usual day to day activities.
• Don’t be afraid to ask: Many parents fear that talking to children about such games could make them more curious. However, it is likely that your child is already aware about the blue whale challenge, due to all the media hype about it. In such times, being the first one to reach out to them and talk to them about it could be beneficial.
• Spending more quality time with your child: Being available to talk to them is small step that parents could start with. Using more positive statements, acknowledging them for their achievements, praising them when needed could help boost a child’s self esteem and instil feelings of self worth and importance.
• Provide a safe space for any conversation: When parents spend time, and provide a safe space for discussion with their children, it creates a more secure platform for them to talk to their children and make them more aware of the dangers of such games. This helps in providing psychological and emotional support especially for teenagers in a non-judgemental way, which could go a long way in helping them get out of any kinds of feelings of low self worth.

What to do if your child mentions/ you suspect that they are playing The Blue Whale Challenge?

• Take it seriously: Do not dismiss it by assuming that they might be joking. As parents it is necessary to treat it with urgency and thereby reach out for immediate support to cope with the same.
• Be calm: Once you have gathered yourself together and thought through what they have shared. Speak to your child about it in a calm manner. Do not interrogate them or shout at them. They are already very emotionally sensitive and perhaps having a healthy discussion could encourage them to open up to you.
• Reach out to professional help: In extreme situations, if you see any attempt of self harm, please reach out for support immediately by getting in touch with a psychologist, other mental health professionals or even a counsellor.