Last week, the UAE has blocked several online gaming websites including ‘Blue Whale’. The Blue Whale Challenge is an online game that’s killing young people – mainly teenagers – across the world.
The game was rumoured to have caused the recent suicides of two Filipino teenagers but was later on debunked by Dubai Police saying both Grade 10 students were suffering from depression related to family circumstances. The girl was found hanging from her bedroom ceiling by her mother while the boy had jumped from the sixth floor at their residential building in Al Qusais.
Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, UAE Attorney-General also ordered to block a number of online gaming websites, including Roblox, My Friend Cayla, Cloudpets, and Mariam.
The move follows reports received by the Attorney General on the adverse impact of these games on youngsters’ behaviour and their infiltration into their personal and family lives, while pushing them into adopting forms of conduct that threaten the society.
The UAE has blocked several online gaming websites including Blue Whale, Roblox, My Friend Cayla, Cloudpets, and Mariam
The Attorney General assigned the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) to take all necessary measures to restrict these sites in collaboration with the telecommunication firms and internet service providers in the country.
While the UAE has been aggressive in fighting these online dangers, parents are also urged to be pro-active in keeping an open communication with their children.
Child psychology expert Dr Mohammad S. Tahir said in media interviews that descriptive text and graphic pictures and visuals about suicide could easily influence youngsters. “It might be interpreted differently by different people. They might see it as one way to get sympathy and attention. Since teenagers are vulnerable and want to become popular, they may try imitating the scenes,” he was quoted as saying.
Being available to talk to children and even older teenagers when they go through vulnerable phases, making them aware of the dangers of certain games, and providing psychological and emotional support would be a non-judgmental way to help them, said Mumbai-based consultant psychiatrist Deepti Kukreja, of Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital.
Here are some of the threatening online trends that expose children to danger
1. The Blue Whale challenge
Credit: Forbes
Players of the game follow a series of instructions on social media, carrying out 50 assigned tasks. It starts with watching a scary movie and moves to extremes, including self-harm. For the 50th task, the participant is told to commit suicide.
2. Choking challenge
In this contest, players believe that choking themselves or cutting off oxygen to the brain can result in “temporary euphoria”, with reports claiming that the game takes 250 to 1,000 lives every year in the US.
3. Ice & salt challenge
The game involves a person putting salt on their body and then immediately placing ice over it, as they bear the pain for the longest time possible. The ice, water, and salt blend is considered potentially lethal, causing even second- to third-degree burns.
4. Car surfing challenge
In this challenge, teenagers surf on the roof, bumper, or hood of a moving car, using either a sofa, skateboard or any other object attached to the vehicle. In many cases, deaths have been reported due to head injuries.
5. Kylie Lip challenge
Teens in this challenge grab a shot glass and put their lips inside it. They then suck as hard as possible, which artificially plumps their lips. In some instances, the shot glass has broken, resulting in damaged blood vessels.
6. Duct tape contest
A group of teens duct tape a friend and then the taped teen struggles to break free. In a recent case, a challenger fell and hit his head on a window frame and concrete; the impact crushed his eye socket.
7. Cinnamon challenge
This game has been circulating for some years now, requiring a teen to swallow a spoonful of cinnamon without drinking any water. The challenge can cause respiratory and throat issues such as collapsed lung and choking.
8. Ice Bucket challenge
The game is one of the most viral challenges on the Internet. Though the challenge was created to raise awareness and funds for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease, instances have been reported of teens overdoing the amount of water and ice, resulting in hypothermia.
9. Vampire biting game
In this game, youngsters bite each other as vampires, leading to potential risks of infection, scarring, HIV, and hepatitis.
10. Ghost chilli task
Called “bhut jolokia”, the chilli is the hottest in the world. In this game, kids stick the chilli in their mouth and record their reactions. The high heat leads to unbearable pain in the mouth; reactions include nausea and gagging.
