The Blue Whale Challenge is an online "game" where players are given tasks over 50 days by administrators, with the final task being suicide. It originated in Russia in 2013 and has since caused over 150 deaths globally. In India, several teenage deaths have been linked to the game since July 2017. Signs of playing include loneliness, social media addiction, and self-harm. Parents are encouraged to monitor children's online activity and watch for signs of distress. Other dangerous online games that encourage self-harm include the Ice and Salt Challenge and Choking Game.

2. INTRODUCTION
• The Blue Whale Game also called "Blue Whale Challenge", is
an Internet "game" that is claimed to exist in several countries.
• The term "Blue Whale" comes from the phenomenon of
beached whales, which is linked to suicide.
• The game allegedly consists of a series of tasks, some of which
involve self-mutilation, assigned to players by “administrators”
during a 50-day period, with the final challenge requiring the
player to commit suicide.
• The list of tasks, to be completed in 50 days, includes waking
up at 4:20 A.M., climbing a crane, carving a specific phrase on
the person’s own hand or arm, doing secret tasks, poking a
needle to the arm or leg, standing on a bridge and roof,
listening to eerie music, and watching horror videos sent to
the challengers by the administrator.

3. ORIGIN
• The Blue Whale challenge began in Russia in 2013 with
"F57", one of the names of the so-called "death group"
of the popular Russian social media site, VKontakte, or
VK for short, and allegedly caused its first suicide in 2015.
• It is said to have been created by Russian national,
Philipp Budeikin. Arrested in May 2017, the 21-year-old
allegedly admitted to inciting 16 schoolgirls to take their
own lives.
• In his confession, he apparently declared that his aim was
to rid the world of 'biological waste' and said he was
'cleansing society' by goading those who were 'happy to
die’.
• The game is believed to have since incited 150 suicides
across Russia, the US, the UK, Italy, Brazil, Argentina and
Portugal.

4. 50 Tasks in This Game

5. SUICIDE SPREE IN INDIA
 July 26, 2017
A 16-year old boy from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Manoj was found
dead in his room. He had hanged himself. In the months leading up to his
suicide, he had spoken to his mother about the Blue Whale Challenge, and
also displayed signs of self-harm.
 July 29, 2017
The death of a 14-year-old boy, Manpreet, who apparently jumped off the
terrace of his apartment building in Andheri, Mumbai, raised concerns
about the ‘game’. The police are following up on his social media activity.
 August 10, 2017
A student from Class 7 tried to jump off the third floor of his school
building in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, allegedly to complete an online
suicide dare. He was saved in the nick of time by the school’s PT coach.
 August 12, 2017
A 15-year-old child Ankan, was found dead in the bathroom of his home in
west Midnapore, West Bengal. He had choked himself.
 August 27, 2017
A 13-year-old class VI student in the town of Maudaha, Hamirpur district,
Uttar Pradesh, hung himself, after playing the Blue Whale game.

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Top 10 Cities Of India With Highest
No. Of Blue Whale Challenge Searches

10. Tell Tale Signs
• Feelings of loneliness or isolation
• Withdrawal from favourite activities
• Non-communicative behaviour
• Addiction to social media
• Disturbed eating and sleeping habits
• Irritability
• Aggression
• Lethargy
• Sluggishness
• Tiredness

11. Prevention
• MONITOR
If you’re giving your child a smartphone, install parental
control apps or safety apps which allows online activity to
be monitored.
• SET RULES
Children should be taught to take responsibility for their
online behaviour. Just as they are taught to be safe in the
real world, cyber security can be discussed as well
• MODERATE USE
Spending more than 5 hours at a computer or on a
smartphone is considered addict-level behaviour.
• BE AWARE
Keep an eye open for indications of self-harm. Children
might dress in a way that hides such wounds.

12. Deadly Games
on the Net
The Ice And Salt Challenge
A social media challenge that involves players applying salt to their skin and
following it up with ice, causing frostbite - like burns
The Deodorant Challenge
Another self-harm game that has players competing to see who can bear the pain
of a chemical burn the longest-by spraying aerosol cans as close to the skin as
possible.
The Choking Game
Aimed at inducing a ‘high’ by restricting the oxygen supply to the brain, this game
is believed to have claimed several lives in the UK and US.
The Pass Out Challenge
Taking the ‘choking game’ one step further, this challenge involves players
strangling themselves until they fall unconscious.

13. Source
• India Today: Secret Life of Suicide
Games (Sept 4th Edition).
• Wikipedia: Blue Whale (Game) –
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_
Whale_(game).
• Hindustan Times.
• Times of India.
• WhatsApp & Facebook.

14. Presented By:
Kritika Dhiman
Madhav Khandelwal
Surya Bahadur
Kumal