How the Blue Whale game brainwashes kids

Teenaged victims of the Blue Whale game are so focused on completing tasks and getting to the next level that they do not stop to think about the consequences of their actions, says a psychiatrist

Dr Priyanka Mahajan

What drives a child to take his or her own life just for a game? According to Dr Priyanka Mahajan, a psychiatrist at Masina Hospital, the teenaged victims of the Blue Whale game are so focused on completing the tasks and getting to the next level of the game, that they do not stop to think about the consequences of their actions.

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Illustration/Ravi Jadhav

Steady escalation of tasks
"At 13 or 14, a child does not have the ability to analyse the aftermath. What games like these do is desensitise the player in various stages. He or she then does not stop to think what will happen after the extreme step, what the ramifications will be for the family. Before the final step of jumping off a building, there will be a series of steps to lead the child on, starting with sitting on the parapet. The next task may be to walk on the parapet. This way, it keeps escalating."

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Friends are the first responders
She added, "It is naïve to think that just one boy is playing the game. Youngsters should be made aware that if they see their friend posting suicidal messages on social media, they should not dismiss it as a lark. They are often the first responders in such cases. They need to inform a responsible adult or the child's family."

Also read: Is Mumbai boy India's first 'Blue Whale Game' suicide case?

Schools, too, can contribute in this battle. "Today, every school has a counsellor. They must talk to children about the game. It will have immediate resonance. We need this to be consistent and ongoing effort," the psychiatrist said.

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