It’s scary when someone tells you through a social media chat, “For the first time in life do something useful. It’s good to die young!” Mumbai woke up to a shocking news on 30th July 2017, when a young 14-year-old posted a last photo of himself on Instagram with these words, “Soon the only thing you would be left with is a picture of me.” This ninth-class student jumped to his death from the fifth floor of his building. What triggered this? Immediately, the media and friends asked, “Could he have been India’s first victim of the Blue Whale suicide challenge that has already taken one hundred and fifty young lives the world over?”
This potentially dangerous social media game, the ‘Blue Whale suicide challenge’ traps young vulnerable lives, literally brain-washing them, with fifty tasks over a fifty-day period with invitations to try a number of activities that do harm: waking up at 4.00 am watching horror movies, eating wrong foods, cutting oneself, etc. The final challenge is to commit suicide.
Blue Whales are commonly known to beach themselves up in order to die. The game “challenges” the viewer to do the destructive activities s/he is supposed to do. It plays on the vulnerability of the young and the ease with which they can be manipulated. When “challenged,” youngsters will tend to do dangerous or destructive things, rather than appear afraid.
Waking up each morning for fifty days and posting ‘live updates’ on performing the challenge is psychologically draining, physically exhausting and socially constricting. From simple sinister tasks like listening to songs, it moves to watching horror movies, cutting one’s arms and drawing blood from whale symbols, the young vulnerable mind is slowly heading to be ‘beached up.’ With every video or photographic proof provided, the administrators of the Blue Whale game keep inciting the gamer to get more adventurous. The cruel part is: the gamer cannot quit the oncoming challenge. Threats are made on family members if they decide to quit. The only way to win this game is to die! Suicide the only path. Being victorious is dying young.
When 21-year-old Philip Budeikin, the Russian inventor of the ‘Blue Whale Suicide Challenge,’ was interviewed while serving a jail sentence, he confessed a shocking reason for inventing such a game. He said, “These youngsters are ‘biological wastes’ and they are ‘happy to die’. I am only ‘cleansing society’. Dying young is the only good thing they can do in society!” What a sick and sickening view of young people!
Understanding the New Millennial Gen:
In an interview on Inside Quest (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU3R0ot18bg), Simon Sinek shares his views on the New Millennial Generation in the workplace and their internet addiction. While I personally don’t subscribe to all his views, his many insights on four important areas – parenting, technology, impatience and environment – are key pointers to enable us to journey with the young in moving away from a culture of death to celebrating a ‘Culture of Life.’ We, parents, guardians, religious and educators in particular, have a moral responsibility in creating spaces and platforms for the young to Celebrate Life. No youngster can be labelled as a ‘biological waste.’ Every life is a God-given gift – unique and special. Helping the young to be fully alive is our sacred task.
Baleia Rosa – the new ‘Pink Whale’ Game:
Baleia Rosa or the ‘Pink Whale’ game is a new found proactive game that encourages the young people to generate more positivity and kindness around one’s life. Started as recently as April 2017 in Brazil, this game is making an impact to ‘save a young life.’ Young minds are invited to perform generous acts, promote self-love and acceptance, even scribble ‘I am beautiful’ on one’s wrist! In short, Baleia Rosa simply adds more love, kindness and creates a healthier and happier environment for all. The challenge is to save a person’s life, an animal life, the environment or even an organization. With the support of the Brazilian Government, this Baleia Rosa is a twin whale swimming across the internet to ‘viralise’ the cause of celebrating life more abundantly and purposefully.
Six Helps the Young Need
Across India, September 5th is celebrated as Teacher’s Day. As educators, our primary task is not to impart knowledge or to complete a particular syllabus. Neither should our educational institutes be focused only on securing a 100% result. Our institutions need to be seedbeds for cultivating rich values and virtues. Life is more than a classroom experience. Education needs to be a life-centered. How can we make a difference?
- Focus on all the students simply because every teenage mind is vulnerable. It is a myth to believe that only a few minds are vulnerable.
- Accompany students to develop ‘healthy internet choices’ and to know its consequences. Not all media and websites are bad or destructive. Without being a web-drone, with prudence, follow your students on their various social networking platforms. Engage in purposeful chats rather than on simplistic forwards.
- Promote a Culture of Celebrating Life and stop the glorification of suicides. Is suicide contagious? Yes, research shows that especially among 15-19-year olds, it is four times more likely! Promote the ‘Hijack Blue Whale Campaign’ as in Hong Kong, where anti-suicide associations for prevention of ‘Youth Soc-icide’ support the celebration of life. The ‘Pink Whale Challenge’ seems to be a better option too.
- Develop gentle ‘psychological vigilance’ over your student’s sudden change in behaviour or life style. Provide opportunities for daily sharing of experiences and help them to seek solutions to the difficulties they face, rather than allowing them to gravitate towards seeking solutions from social networks or ‘virtual social popularity’. Present ‘mental health’ as an opportunity for growth rather than a problem to be shunned.
- Extend your school boundaries to enter into daily family life. More education takes place at home than in a classroom. Parents need to collaborate with educators for the good their children.
- Life can best be celebrated when one is in touch with the Divine Creator. Provide moments for deep spiritual exercises and prayerful experiences. This is where we can make a huge impact on young minds and hearts.
On Teacher’s Day, we can commit ourselves to educating our students to celebrate life abundantly. The best way to cleanse society is not the ‘Blue Whale’ campaign, but to liberate young lives to lead themselves and celebrate life more purposefully, serenely, lovingly and spiritually each day. The “Pink Whale” of life and love is better any day than the “Blue Whale” of manipulation and self-destruction.
To subscribe to the magazine Contact Us
