Blue Whale Game: What You Need to Know to Keep Your Child Safe

In the modem environment where technology has become a boon in terms of development, its wrongful use in the absence of alertness Is becoming a curse for the new generation. Mobile is definitely helpful in connecting the new generation with updated technology, but excessive liberty given to children on use of mobile, ignorant attitude of family, lack of supervision, loneliness, among others, are drawing children into dangerous games like ‘Blue Whale’. This dangerous game originating in Russia, has also been introduced in many countries including India. In this game of death, over 10 children have lost their lives in India. Country’s first female cyber crime expert and founder of Halt Cyber Violence Awareness Centre Advocate Deepti Sutaria shared her views on the challenges of Blue Whale game, its fatal consequences and the role of family, society and the government, in this special interview to Our Nagpur Team.

Question: What are the challenges of Blue Whale game?
Answer: The Blue Whale game has been created by a 21-year-old frustrated youth named Philipp Budeiken from Russia. This is not a sports app, but you connect yourself through a link in which 50 tasks are given to be performed one task per day. After completing the first task, the administrator of the that chat room gives the second task. As the tasks progress gradually, the youths are mentally conditioned and encouraged to commit suicide. This entire game takes control of the children passing through frustration, and pushes them into the jaws of death. The disadvantages of this game were first discovered by Russian woman journalist Galina who named it ‘Death Group’. Lack of communication in the family loneliness, pressure of education or family bitterness takes children closer to the game. This is a game of frustration and retribution.

Q: What are the signs of children facing the challenge of Blue Whale?

A: The current education system has put more burden on the children. They are often wider the pressure of studies. There is also pressure on them from the family to study. The emotional needs of children are not considered as important. Facing neglect from all around them including parents, children get frustrated and get trapped into retribution games like Blue Whale. In this trap, there are many contradictory changes in the behavior of children. The laughing baby looks silent and enjoys loneliness. There is unnecessary irritability in it. Many times aggression is also seen. This is the time when the family should understand the child’s mental state and start giving him or her Importance in order to bring him or her back on the track.

Q: What steps have been taken to protect children from this game?

A: In this context, I suggested to the Union women and child welfare minister Maneka Gandhi to ban Blue Whale game. On August 31, 2017, the letter was issued in this regard. Child helpline number 1098 has also been established. CBSE has also issued a letter to the schools to conduct workshops for children. Our centre is also organizing a workshop for parents with the India Wide Parents Association’s chief Anubha Sahay.

Q: How to educate school children and busy parents in this regard?

A: A workshop should be organised jointly by the CBSE or the schools for children, parents and teachers. In this workshop participants should be warned about the dangers of Blue Whale game and they should be mentally prepared to deal with it. This is a link and clickbait. It is also important to have a cyber psychologist with a cyber expert in the workshop. Our centre is linked to  Dr. John Suller, London’s cyber  psychologist, and his  help also be taken.

Q: Is there a gap between children and parents? 

A: Yes, there definitely is a gap between children and parents in this hectic  world. We can see this gap as the absence of communication and the consequent lack of emotional understanding. when children see their parents are busy in other world, they choose their own path, creating problems for them. selves as well as the family to bridge this gap, dialogue based on mutual trust is very important.

Q: Are parents also responsible for the death of children?

A: In fact, in case of Blue Whale related deaths, no one can be held solely responsible. The blame can  not be put on the child or Parent. Things become such that the children go to the point of ending lives.
Yes, as a part of alertness, parents should keep an eye on changes in the behavior of their children. In  case of death of a child named Manpreet in  Mumbai, the forensic  report has not yet been  received even after so long a time. Children in this game make a mark on their hands  and legs. The true picture  will emerge only if such things find a mention in the report.

Q: What Is the misuse of technology?

A: Such lethal game are only part of the misuse of technology. The freedom given to children on use of technology is producing negative results. In fact, we have been incomplete in copying the West We have neither remained Indian nor fully adopted western culture. This incomplete comprehension is causing difficulties for us.

Q: What steps has the current government taken to check the adverse effects of technology?

A: The government has not taken any stern steps other than High court the adverse effects of technology After surfacing of Blue Whale deaths, notices were issued by the Bombay High Court to Facebook, Google, etc. As for the government, it has only given assurance so far.

Q: What is your opinion In these cases?

A:  I believe that the situation of frustration leads to children playing like a blue whale. To avoid these dangers, it is important that families maintain mutual communication and support each other emotionally. The biggest responsibility Iles on women. They should give the family more time.

Q: Which are the laws to deal with Information Technology cases?

A: The laws that the government has made to deal with the dangers of Information Technology are extremely inadequate. There are only 90 sections in the IT Act. Many cases are far from its reach. There are no laws to deal with the computer related and online cases. There should be cyber courts to deal with cybercrime cases.

Q: If technology is being misused, what is future of children born in this era?

A: Failure to stop misuse of technology will lead children in the wrong direction. Apart from deadly games like Blue Whale, hacking and money laundering are also dangerous aspects of technology. If this continues, the future of children is not secure. Children can become Steve Jobs and Bill Gates if technology is used in a positive manner. It is the joint responsibility of the family, society and the government society and the government to set the things right.

Do you think these type of challenges will keep coming in the future ?? Satan’s Alphabet and Hot water challenge are in the Queue.

Do you have any questions? you can question us in comment section or mail your questions at [email protected].