The Blue Whale game is a social media suicide game that has been linked to over 150 children suicides. To date over 130 children suicides in Russia have been linked to the Blue Whale game. The game has made its way to Europe. It has been linked to suicides in Portugal, Spain, England, and Ireland as recent as April and May of 2017. (http://people.com/human-interest/texas-parents-say-blue-whale-online-challenge-led-suicide-son/)
The Blue Whale Game is an online interactive challenge game that starts with an assignment of tasks for the player. A series of tasks occur over a 50 day period to complete. Some tasks may be as simple as watching a horror movie. Gradually, the tasks are increasingly more severe involving self inflicted injuries. As each task is completed, the player posts a picture of the task on Instagram. Although this game has typically been played on Instagram, other social media platforms have been used as well. Some posts include pictures and videos of self inflicted wounds include a whale carving on an arm, balancing on a roof, or a pool of blood. The player wins at the end of the game, when they complete the final task of suicide. In some cases, this has involved posting “End” with a picture of a blue whale.
Instagram has begun to post a warning regarding the Blue Whale game when a search is done for the term “blue whale.”
The game’s creator, Phillip Budeikin, from Russia, is imprisoned. He started the game in 2013. He has stated that he was cleansing society of certain people that were biological waste. Even though he is imprisoned, other “death groups” have continued with the Blue Whale game. In addition, the creator receives love letters in prison.
Please discuss the Blue Whale game, its dangers, and its links to suicide with your children and their friends, especially if you have my concerns regarding depression or suicide in your children or notice my change in their behavior.
