The Blue Whale Challenge: Identifying Vulnerable Children

The internet may have changed the world in more ways than one. Social media has brought us closer together, the depth of information has made our lives easier, and the increasing number of apps and entertainment websites are enough to keep the boredom at bay. But the internet can be a dangerous place too. Unrestricted access will lead us to explore some of the darkest places we could’ve imagined, and what’s worse is if young children are the ones doing so.

By now, all of us are more than well aware of the Blue Whale Challenge. The game made it’s debut in Russia back in 2013 and is believed to have killed over 100 teens so far, even after the creator was sentenced to prison in Siberia. In India, there are 5 suspected cases of teens playing the deadly game, known to chase after vulnerable people. There are a number of reasons that youngsters are falling prey to this – competition in studies, career, low self-esteem, or love life.

An interactive workshop on understanding the Blue Whale Game was held at the Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai, and renowned psychiatrists on the panel like Dr. Vihag N. Vahia, Dr. Kesri Chavda, Dr. Alka Subramanyam and Dr. Suyog Jaiswal addressed the need to identify vulnerable children at risk of self-harm. In order to do so, one must first have a proper understanding of the Blue whale game, and when children can be exploited the most.

Blue Whale is an online chat room based game that was started and spread on Vkontakte, a popular site in Russia. It is stilled unclear why the game is called ‘Blue Whale’, but the participants of the game are known as ‘Whales’. The game is not an app, and the administrator of the game gets into the person’s device using various third-party applications. It is a lot similar to the advertisements that pop-up while browsing the internet. The algorithm of the game is designed to send a link to a specific set of people, and the vulnerable are identified from their browsing history – the administration looks for any signs of distress or psychological weakness. Such people technically look for support – whatever generates a sense of purpose or takes away a sense of isolation or loneliness.

Each level of the game is designed to garner interest in the minds of the vulnerable. It makes them feel a sense of prestige that builds up with each level of completion. The missions are known as ‘dares’, and a photo has to be sent for curator’s approval – proof that the player has completed the given mission.

Surely, the obvious solution to this problem would be to abandon the game altogether. But it’s not as easy as it sounds. When a person starts playing the game, it copies personal data, such as contacts, messages, photos, videos, passwords and browsing history. The player is then blackmailed if he/she tries to leave the game. In cases where the player does not have any compromising data, the curators harass the player by calling at odd hours, or threatening the player’s loved ones with death. This pressure on their personal life creates a spiral of an unavoidable condition, which leads to untimely death.

The viral game has left parents worried for their children’s safety. While there’s no telling when and how the game can reach your child, there are a couple of indicators of your child’s inclination to participate in the game. Basic symptoms include isolation from family or friends, talks about running away from home or death, lack of interest in studies/falling grades, and a change in eating or sleeping habits.

There are many ways you can keep your child safe from this dreadful game. Some of them include –

• Monitoring your child’s internet usage. Provide access to age-appropriate sites that do not promote unethical behavior or violence. Also, have control over the amount of time your child spends online.
• Your child is probably already aware of the Blue Whale Game given the media frenzy surrounding it. Keep them informed about the various repercussions of the game to avoid any mishaps.
• Use parental controls on all devices accessed by your child, and at the same time, be conscious of your own online activities.
• Talk to other parents and share concerns, if any, and discuss best ways to help your children.
• Build mutual trust and bonding where the child can open up to the parents, so that they do not have to resort to the internet or other sources, seeking a solution to their problem.

In the event that you find your child already playing the game, your best bet is to snap the internet connection immediately, and inform police authorities about it so that necessary measures can be taken. Take your child to the psychologist and try to understand the problem. In this case, the child needs immense love and affection, and it is necessary for the child to feel protected and loved. Talk to your child about whatever he/she is going through and understand their issues without being judgemental. You must teach your child that life is more important than any game and counsel them about the same. Children, especially teens, tend to open up more to their peers about their problem, so it will come handy to implement a sort of buddy system – ask their closest friend to keep a tab on your child’s behavior (in a subtle manner) at school or college, and be in regular contact with that friend regarding the same.

At the school or college level, teachers too can play a massive role in protecting the child from such heinous games. Teachers need to keep an eye of low grades and monitor the behaviour of each child –

• Watch out for aggression towards their peers, isolation, etc. If they observe something suspicious or alarming, inform school authorities and parents immediately.
• Organise various life skills training programs where one can be taught how to deal with problems in a particular manner.
• Give the students more survey-based projects rather than research-based ones (where they would have to use the internet), make them talk to people like vendors, shopkeepers, grocers, etc.
• Lay emphasis on extra-curricular activities, as they’re the only break students get from an otherwise rigid curriculum.
• Sensitize them about the pros and cons of the internet from time to time.

“If the child exhibits a particular behaviour and shows a sudden change in this behaviour, that’s a sign we must take cognizance of. At the same time, if the child refuses to make eye to eye contact when discussing issues, you know something is amiss”, said Dr. Vihag.

People from age 12 to 29 are more likely to be victims of this deadly game. The government has directed internet companies to ban the game, but even that does not keep concerns at bay. Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Microsoft and Yahoo are responding, and attempts to take down any links leading to the game are ongoing. However, it is still unclear how these companies would make the game inaccessible.

The most important step to prevent your child from falling prey to such games is to let them ’feel’. “Too often, we’re caught up with the notion that children must always be ‘happy’. It’s important to just let them be, sometimes. But not to the point where they are withdrawn. Do not use happiness as a measure of success”, says Dr. Alka.