How to keep teenagers safe from online suicide ‘games’
Paul Yip says a ‘game’ trending on social media is now linked to scores of teen suicides around the world, and it’s vital we respond by addressing the underlying problems that make youngsters vulnerable
A teenage suicide “game” is trending around the world. A suicide pact disguised as an online game, it challenges players to 50 days of risky tasks, including self-harm, and culminates in killing oneself. The so-called Blue Whale challenge originated from Russian-speaking social media, and has reportedly been linked to more than 100 child and teenage suicides in Russia, Central Asia and Europe.
Last November, an alleged ringleader of the game, 21-year-old Filipp Budeikin, was detained and charged with organising groups that promoted suicide.
In Kenya, where at least three suicides have been linked to the game, the government ordered mention of the game removed from all social media sites. It also wrote to Facebook, Twitter, Google, YouTube and other online companies to alert them.
The response of the Kenyan government has been swift and appropriate. Hopefully, this can protect vulnerable teens from being contacted by predatory “curators” of the game, who reportedly seek potential victims online and invite them to the game.
The Hong Kong government is also looking into the matter. What more could be done?