The Blue Whale Challenge involves a student signing up for and agreeing to perform 50 tasks assigned at random by the game administrator. The tasks may start off small like: listening to the radio for a certain song, watching a TV show and gradually progress to more sinister tasks like cutting themselves. In order to win, the student must complete the 50th task which is committing suicide.
How does a student get involved? Another student usually tags them through an app called Snapchat and challenges them to play. The student then downloads another app, The Blue Whale, which then goes through the student's personal information on their phone like a computer virus. This app cannot be deleted once downloaded, and it gathers all of the student's personal information and as much information about their family as it can. Once the game administrator has gathered all of this information, they use it to control the student and threaten to release info about their family or to physically harm them. They lead the student to believe that the only way to save their family is to commit suicide.
The Letter X game also uses Snapchat. A student send the letter "X" to another student. The recipient is then supposed to respond with another student's name. Once the originator has a name, they send it out to their friends to begin a campaign of cruel texts and videos about the student picked. The students use Snapchat because the messages are generally deleted within 24 hours. Even so, the taunts can be so cruel and overwhelming, the student may feel so embarrassed that they want to commit suicide.
As students are receiving cell phones from their parents at an earlier age, parents need to reinforce strict guidelines for their child's cell phone usage. Cyber bullying is becoming most school bullies' weapon of choice to beat down those that they perceive to be weak. Let your child know that tomorrow, that same bully could turn around and target them. Ask them how it would feel to be subjected to that type of vile behavior. Lay out clear consequences for violating any cell phone or Internet rules. These rules need to be reviewed on a consistent basis so your child is very clear about your expectations.
Do not feel you are invading your child's privacy by monitoring their cell and Internet usage. There are too many programs and apps that give parental control lock outs and monitoring for a parent to claim ignorance if their child misuses their privilege. In most phone setting, you can control by using a different pass-code, the amount of freedom your child has with their phones. You can cut their camera off so their cannot be enticed to upload inappropriate photos. You can restrict what websites they are able to visit. You are not there to be their friend. They have enough friends! Be the parent when they're young and then you can be their friend when they're grown. Spend a little time today, to avoid potential heartache tomorrow.
Remember - "If you fail to plan, then plan to fail!"
