Social media sites to create awareness on dangers of Blue Whale game

The Ministry of Electronics and IT has asked social media platforms including Facebook, Google, and WhatsApp to weave awareness campaigns about the dangers of the Blue Whale game.

They have also suggested them to create a mechanism whereby a pop-up will surface every time someone searches the game on the respective platforms. These pop-ups could suggest preventive measures or desist people from proceeding further, said sources privy to the development.

A meeting in this regard was held last week wherein these platforms were also been asked to block applications and games which mention the word whale. According to a senior official from the ministry, at least two websites have been blocked in India which had links to the Blue Whale game. The official, however, declined to reveal the name of the websites.

The ministry, under Ravi Shankar Prasad, has been taking proactive steps to prevent any further mishaps due to the game.

Also, investigating agencies have found two instances, where the data of the mobile phones used to play the game was removed, according to sources.

The official also said that children are more vulnerable to these games, which is why we need to create awareness on platforms used frequently by teenagers.

The ministry, in a letter issued to all internet majors in August, said, "Instances of children committing suicide while playing Blue Whale Challenge have been reported in India...You are requested to ensure that any such link of this deadly game in its own name or similar game is immediately removed from your platform."

"It is understood that an administrator of the game uses social media platforms to invite /incite children to play this game, which may eventually lead them to take extreme steps for self-inflicting injuries including suicide," the letter added.