Srinagar: The Blue Whale Challenge, believed to be a suicide game, has caught the attention of the state government’s education department, prompting it to order launch of vigorous awareness campaign among students in Kashmir Valley.
Official sources said that Director School Education Kashmir has written letter to all the Chief Executive Officers, asking them to issue immediate necessary instructions to the Heads of the Institutions so that rigorous awareness campaign was launched in order to prevent students from playing the ‘suicide game’.
“The matter may be attended on priority and action taken report may be submitted to this Directorate within a week’s time,” reads the order which was actually issued following a report received from I.G. CID regarding the online game.
The report indicates that some miscreants are using Social Media to mislead the people particularly vulnerable groups which includes students into playing the game. “The outcome of such activities is very harmful to the society as a whole and students in particular,” the report underlined.
“It is being said that the game can reach a young teenager on social media site; it they endorse certain hashtags and get involved in some groups. When the player sign up for the game, she or he is assigned an administrator who provides them with a daily task of which they must send photogiaphic proof of completion,” it said.
The report further says the horrific tasks include self-harming, watching horror movies and waking up at unusual hours, but these gradually get more extreme. On the 50th day, the controlling manipulators behind the game reportedly instruct the youngsters to commit suicide.
“Those who hesitate in performing dares are threatened that the administrator possesses their information and would bring harm to them or their loved ones,” the report said.
The CID report highlighted need for addressing the root causes of vulnerability of young adolescents and talking to them about such harmful groups. This is perhaps a better defence against the Blue Whale game, it said.
“Since Jammu and Kashmir has a broader social media base comprising of majority of teenagers who are more vulnerable and prone to such traps, it is advised that the Department of Education may be asked to impart awareness and knowledge of such fatal social media traps to students. The children should advised not to follow the crowd and not feel pressured into doing anything that makes them feel unsafe. Parents shall also be advised to talk to their children and counsel them.”
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