The news from Texas of a teen who hanged himself is the latest bad news from numerous cases caused by Ghoulish online game urges young people to end their lives by luring the participants to complete a series of tasks before taking their own lives.
This is to warn parents about the so-called ''Blue Whale Challenge'' or ''Blue Whale Game'' to as a matter of fact, monitor and vet their young ones online surfing or games, take time to find out about what they are playing, who they associate with, and also monitor their movement.
According to a social worker with the school system 'The Baldwin County Public School System' warned parents on their Facebook page Tuesday that, it's been introduced on two high school campuses there already.
Parents allege that teens reach out to game administrators called curators through various social media platforms. Those curators lead the players through 50 days of challenges including watching scary movie clips, cutting symbols into their arms and legs and taking pictures of themselves in dangerous positions such as on the edge of a roof or on train tracks.
The participants are allegedly required to take pictures of their challenges being completed and share them before being directed to end their lives on the 50th day. A search of related hashtags on Instagram shows users posting pictures of scars and cuts or memes that depict suicide, and a similar Twitter search shows users reaching out for curators to lead them through the game.
It's a challenge to harm yourself for 50 days, resulting in suicide. Teenagers are supposed to tag each other on social media, primarily SnapChat, and then challenge each other to play.
The student then downloads the Blue Whale app, which hacks into their personal information and cannot be deleted. The app originators then threaten the teenagers with harm to their families or releasing of personal information until they kill themselves. This evil Game is originated from Russia.
Here are the Victims parent Warning
This is to warn parents about the so-called ''Blue Whale Challenge'' or ''Blue Whale Game'' to as a matter of fact, monitor and vet their young ones online surfing or games, take time to find out about what they are playing, who they associate with, and also monitor their movement.
According to a social worker with the school system 'The Baldwin County Public School System' warned parents on their Facebook page Tuesday that, it's been introduced on two high school campuses there already.
Parents allege that teens reach out to game administrators called curators through various social media platforms. Those curators lead the players through 50 days of challenges including watching scary movie clips, cutting symbols into their arms and legs and taking pictures of themselves in dangerous positions such as on the edge of a roof or on train tracks.
The participants are allegedly required to take pictures of their challenges being completed and share them before being directed to end their lives on the 50th day. A search of related hashtags on Instagram shows users posting pictures of scars and cuts or memes that depict suicide, and a similar Twitter search shows users reaching out for curators to lead them through the game.
It's a challenge to harm yourself for 50 days, resulting in suicide. Teenagers are supposed to tag each other on social media, primarily SnapChat, and then challenge each other to play.
The student then downloads the Blue Whale app, which hacks into their personal information and cannot be deleted. The app originators then threaten the teenagers with harm to their families or releasing of personal information until they kill themselves. This evil Game is originated from Russia.
Here are the Victims parent Warning
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| Blue Whale Challenge victim |
Jorge Gonzalez told San Antonio television station WOAI (http://bit.ly/2ufDDhG ) that he wanted to caution others after his son, Isaiah, was found hanging in his bedroom closet Saturday in the family's home with his cellphone propped up on a shoe to record his death.
Gonzalez' family said in the days after the teen died, they pieced together from his social media and communication with friends that he had participated in the game.
His sister, Alexis, told the TV station that a person behind the challenge had gathered personal information from Isaiah and had threatened to harm the family.
Many parents and other authorities are skeptical that the game actually exists, citing a lack of suicides directly attributed to it.
Gonzalez' family said in the days after the teen died, they pieced together from his social media and communication with friends that he had participated in the game.
His sister, Alexis, told the TV station that a person behind the challenge had gathered personal information from Isaiah and had threatened to harm the family.
Many parents and other authorities are skeptical that the game actually exists, citing a lack of suicides directly attributed to it.
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| FBI |
Agent Michelle Lee of the FBI's San Antonio office said the agency is not assisting in the investigation, but urged parents to monitor their children's online activities.
"It's a reminder of one of the many dangers and vulnerabilities that children face using various social media and apps online every day," Lee said. "Parents must remain vigilant and monitor their child's usage of the internet."
Gonzalez is the second parent this week to tell news outlets about a child who died by suicide allegedly as a result of the game. A Georgia woman spoke Monday to CNN about her 16-year-old daughter killing herself as part of the challenge but asked that their names not be used.
Educators, law enforcement officers and parents across the country have reported rumors about the challenge for months. But until this week, there had been no allegations in the United States about a death directly linked to the game. Suicides in Russia, Brazil and a half dozen other countries were reportedly linked to the challenge in cases that usually involved teenagers or young adults.
There was no such case in Nigeria or Africa yet, but step must be taken to prevent such occurrence here in our environment.
"The elementary school principals started hearing their kids talk about this thing. Then the secondary principals started mentioning the same thing," he said. "We discovered on our school network content about the challenge had been looked at on YouTube. ... I decided I would rather err on the side of information with parents."
It is very important for parents, When talking to their children, the underlying conversation needs to be about dealing with strangers online and putting themselves in a position of trust, encourage your children not to keep secrets and also be their friend so that they can open up to you. It's an issue that a child is listening to someone anonymously and doing what they are told by a stranger to do.
"It's a reminder of one of the many dangers and vulnerabilities that children face using various social media and apps online every day," Lee said. "Parents must remain vigilant and monitor their child's usage of the internet."
Gonzalez is the second parent this week to tell news outlets about a child who died by suicide allegedly as a result of the game. A Georgia woman spoke Monday to CNN about her 16-year-old daughter killing herself as part of the challenge but asked that their names not be used.
Educators, law enforcement officers and parents across the country have reported rumors about the challenge for months. But until this week, there had been no allegations in the United States about a death directly linked to the game. Suicides in Russia, Brazil and a half dozen other countries were reportedly linked to the challenge in cases that usually involved teenagers or young adults.
There was no such case in Nigeria or Africa yet, but step must be taken to prevent such occurrence here in our environment.
"The elementary school principals started hearing their kids talk about this thing. Then the secondary principals started mentioning the same thing," he said. "We discovered on our school network content about the challenge had been looked at on YouTube. ... I decided I would rather err on the side of information with parents."
It is very important for parents, When talking to their children, the underlying conversation needs to be about dealing with strangers online and putting themselves in a position of trust, encourage your children not to keep secrets and also be their friend so that they can open up to you. It's an issue that a child is listening to someone anonymously and doing what they are told by a stranger to do.
What Parents Need To Know About The Dangerous Game Called 'Blue Whale Challenge'
Reviewed by E.A Olatoye
on
July 12, 2017
Rating:
Reviewed by E.A Olatoye
on
July 12, 2017
Rating:
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