The Supreme Court on Monday directed all state governments to take steps in order to ensure that all children were informed about the dangers posed by virtual online dare games like the Blue Whale Challenge.

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The apex court’s directive is a follow up of its previous order where it directed state-run television network Doordarshan to use it prime time slot to broadcast programming warning viewers of the dangers of the so-called Blue Whale Challenge that has claimed a number of lives across the country. 

The bench of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra along with Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud also cautioned parents to teach their children and wards about the beauty of life. 

“Make children aware not about the games, but the beauty of life,” the Chief Justice said. “The beauty of life is not to meet with the beauty of death, but to keep death away,” he added.

“Parental care, concern, love, instilling a sense of optimism in children will keep them away from searching for these games,” the bench said while disposing off the petition. 

The court made its observations while hearing a petition filed by advocate Sneha Kalita who sought immediate measures to ban/block all sites linked to the Blue Whale online game and other similar games. 

The Blue Whale Challenge essentially goads players into carrying out a series of tasks, the final one being suicide. 

In its interim report - prepared by a Centre-appointed committee set up to inquire into the deaths allegedly attributed to the Blue Whale Challenge, the government pointed out that depression, fear of failure, solitude may have pushed children to suicide. It further added that it was unable to trace the origins of the game here.

ALERT APPROACH

The apex court’s directive is a follow up of its previous order where it directed Doordarshan to use it prime time slot to broadcast programming warning viewers of the dangers of Blue Whale Challenge