Blue Whale Challenge
WHAT IS IT? Players reportedly follow a series of instructions on social media over 50 days. It starts with watching a scary movie and escalates to extremes, including self-harm. On the 50th day, the participant is told to commit suicide. It has been dubbed a hoax, but disturbing selfharm images have appeared on social media showing cuts carved into the skin in the shape of a Blue Whale. Philipp Budeikin, 22, who claims to have invented the challenge, was this month jailed for three years by a Siberian court for inciting young people in Russia to kill themselves. Instagram issues a warning to users trying to find the “suicide dare game”, directing them to the Samaritans. The challenge has been blamed for the deaths of more than 130 children in Eastern Europe as well as two teenagers in the USA. A number of British schools, including Woodlands School, in Basildon, Essex, have sent warning letters to parents about the challenge. WHAT’S THE RISK? Self-harm, viewing and creating inappropriate content. ADVICE: Internet Matters urges parents to talk to their children about online trends and chat to them regularly about what games their friends are talking about and warn them about peer pressure online. Devices should be set up to stop children finding selfharm sites and images. If you are worried that your child may have come across the Blue Whale challenge contact the Samaritans on 116 123.