The "Blue Whale challenge" has gained a gruesome reputation for preying on people, especially those suffering from various forms of mental health issues. This social media game invites users to perform a different horrible task every day for 50 days, each one a little worse than the day before. The final task requires the victim to commit suicide. It was recently reported that the creator of the game was traced and arrested in Russia. The 22-year-old Phillipp Budekein claimed that he was "cleansing society." He blamed the victims, citing that people who were suicidal were just "biological waste."
The game is causing deaths
The "Blue Whale" Challenge has been blamed for a number of lives lost around the world.
In July, the USA Today ran an article entailing the suicide of Natasha Cadena from Texas who was said to have fallen prey to the game. The "Blue Whale" Challenge is spreading worldwide. According to India Today, India ranks No.1 in "Blue Whale" related searches. The Sun has also reported that the game has caused around 130 deaths in Russia alone.
Similar to the "Blue Whale" Challenge, a new application called Sarahah has been the target of some criticism after various incidents of cyberbullying were reported. Sarahah was started for employees so they are able to give honest feedback on their work. However, as Sarahah's popularity grew, it was turned into a possible portal of cyber harassment, and many such cases have popped up.
The Dailymail [online] ran an article entailing the similarities between the two portals, in the sense that they could pose a serious threat to victims who may already be suffering from any form of a mental health condition.
Game is famous among teenagers
Mental health disorders, namely depression, has been getting a lot more attention of late, and yet there still exists a lot of stigma around the same.
People who tend to be victims of these online portals are often those who have been struggling with stress, depression, and other similar problems. Specifically, with regards to children and teenagers, it is vital that they feel that they have a safe forum of expression at home. Many experts believe that parents should encourage children to be more open with them so that a healthy mental environment is fostered at the base level. In addition, talking to children about cyberbullying and harassment will enable them with a mental grit to stand up to these things.
