The ‘Blue Whale game or challenge is a serial killer on the loose targeting the young. In modern times, killers may not move on foot, they may use the world wide web. This internet game was founded by Philipp Budekin. An expelled psychology student from Russia. The bone chilling part is the founder has no guilt over his creation. He claims the purpose of the game is to ‘clean’ the world off people with little value. Now that is a bizarre thing to say.

The Blue Whale Game: The game which reaches people, especially the young in stealth over the internet uses secretive groups. It consists of a series of tasks with increasing difficulty levels. It preys on the psychological weaknesses of young minds and in succeeding levels causes dependence. After the 50 day challenge period, the final task is to commit suicide.

In India

Recently a 16-year-old boy in kerela was the case of a suicide linked to this challenge. Having completed all tasks this Thiruvananthapuram boy ended his life. Traceability is negated because he had deleted all the game records from his mobile phone before committing suicide. Reports from his mother, tell us that repeated warnings to refrain were to no avail. Other facts pointing to the Blue Whale challenge have also emerged.
In a case from Mumbai, suspicion points to this deadly game being thee culprit. A 14 year old boy jumped to death from the seventh floor in Andheri, Mumbai.
A class 7th student was rescued while trying to leap off a third floor of his school in Indore, Madhya Pradesh on 10, August 2017. All 50 stages of the game were found recorded in his school diary.
A 14 year old boy ran away from his home in Solapur to complete the challenge in Pune. Upon enquiry about his whereabouts, the parents came to know his involvement in the blue whale challenge. Police intercepted and the boy was rescued.
The game claimed a death on 12th of August when a tenth grader from Anandpur in West Bengal committed suicide as a challenge in the game. His body was discovered in the bathroom, with his face covered with a plastic bag tied around his neck by a cotton cord.

How to watch out?

Too many lives have been lost in India to be indifferent towards this game. ‘It will not happen to my child/brother/sister/student/me’ attitude needs to be put aside. Watch out for odd behaviors in the young around you and characteristic words like whale, challenge etc. If emotional imbalances and mood swings develop and erratic activities are recorded, please be aware. Some activities as a part of the blue whale challenge are –

Visiting cemetries.
Waking up at odd hours.
Watching horror movies.
Signs of body mutilation such as cut marks, drawing of a blue whale using a sharp object etc.

The game takes it prey slowly and stealthily. One can never be too careful. The use of smart phones and internet access to the young opens the gateways for dangerous games. While we can restrict the internet access, we can monitor and notify psychologists and the police. We do not want our city to be on the list. Let us watch out.