Understanding the Blue Whale Challenge
The ‘Blue Whale Challenge’ is an online social media trend that involves a series of 50 tasks assigned over a set period. It is a disturbing game that has gained notoriety for its dangerous dares.
How Does the Blue Whale Challenge Work?
The challenge involves an administrator and a participant. The administrator assigns one task a day for a 50-day period. These tasks start off innocuous but progressively become more difficult and harmful, with self-harm and even suicides being part of the final stages.
The Tragic Incident
In a tragic incident, a first-year Indian origin student lost his life while reportedly participating in the Blue Whale Challenge. The 20-year-old student, who was studying at the University of Massachusetts, was found dead on March 8. The case is being investigated as an apparent suicide.
The student’s death shed light on the dangers of such online games and the need for awareness and preventive measures to protect vulnerable individuals.
Government Response
In response to the alarming trend of the Blue Whale Challenge, the Indian government took steps to address the issue. While there were discussions about banning the game, the government ultimately opted to issue a detailed advisory warning about the dangers associated with the ‘suicide game’.
The IT ministry highlighted that the Blue Whale Challenge is a form of abetment to suicide, emphasizing the need for vigilance and intervention to prevent further tragedies.
