Online games harmful for your children

First the Facebook Live. Now, the online suicide games. Seems like there is no respite from the “virtual scare” for the parents.

Online suicide games are games that challenge children to commit suicide and post videos of the same.

Experts warn it is the parents’ responsibility to dissuade children from such “life-threatening” games.

Many children in Oman engage in virtual combats.

Although the chilling ‘Blue Whale’ suicide game hasn’t really caught on here, it doesn’t give parents any reason to smile about.

The games set 50 challenges and the last one is to commit suicide.

“There are many online games that put children’s lives in jeopardy,” says Tariq al Barwani, IT expert and founder of Knowledge Oman.

“I have not heard of any casualties because of suicide games. No case involving such games have been reported in Oman so far, but parents should keep their eyes and ears open,” he cautioned.

He said these online games always look for vulnerable people who can easily get addicted to them.

From time to time, there have been different games stealing the valuable time of the children.

“Do not underestimate anything. We need to do so many things as responsible citizens and responsible parents,” said Al Barwani.

Stressing the role of parents, IT experts said: “We should spend more time with kids and speak to them. Find out what they are up to and who their friends are.”