The Dhaka Times Desk The whole world is worried about the 'blue whale' today. Today's report is about how this game came to be and who brought it, which has taken away the lives of young people.
Recently, a terrible name in the Internet world is 'Blue Whale'. Young people are committing suicide by falling into the trap of this suicide game or death addiction. What is in this game? This game was developed by a man named Philip Budekin. He Kenobi created this game, so now one of the issues of discussion is this 'Blue Whale' game.
Philip Budekin is a citizen of Russia. His nickname is Philip Fox. Nothing is known about his family.
It is reported that Philip first started working with Blue Whale in 2013 at the age of 18. First he also created a group called 'F57' on social media. Then took a plan for 5 years. This Philip plans to destroy people who are unnecessary to society (in his opinion) within 5 years.
Philip was studying at a university in Russia when he started working on this plan. He studied sound engineering and psychology. After studying in the university for 3 years, he was expelled from the university in 2016 when the issue of blue whale was revealed. At that time he was arrested by the Russian law enforcement forces.
As a teenager, Philip was abused by his mother and older brother, according to investigators. However, the investigating officers told the media that he himself is mentally ill.
Philip and his colleagues first used the Russian social media 'VK'. There they also make a group. They started working by spreading fear videos in that group.
Many youths have joined the group due to the spread of horror videos. From there, Budekin's companions began to select young people who could be easily beaten.
In an interview with the St. Petersburg News, Philip said, 'Where there are people, there are some living garbage (people). Those people have no need in society. Either they themselves are a loss to the society, or they cause various losses to the society. I want to clean those 'garbage' of the society.
However, he denied the allegations of directly ordering suicide. He said, I never motivated to commit suicide. However, they are choosing to commit suicide by competing with the game.
Philip was sentenced to 3 years in prison in a secret trial in May this year. He is currently serving time in a Siberian prison.
How does this 'Blue Whale' game work?
'Blue Whale' is an online game for nature. This competition is run by creating an online community. There are total 50 stages in this competition. In order to play these stages, the admin or director of that community gives different challenges to the person who wants to play. Then the contestant completes the challenge and uploads his picture. In the beginning fairly easy and somewhat challenging tasks are given. For example, watching ghost movies at midnight. Activities such as early morning walks along the edge of the roof and painting whales by hand with a blade.
But as the steps increase, the challenging increases and at one time the director gives all the tough and deadly challenges. Which are very scary. The last step in this game is to commit suicide. That is, the contestant must commit suicide to end the game. But the player may die before reaching the final stage of this game. For example: tasks such as walking on the edge of a roof or walking on a railway line in this game can lead to death.
Most of the stages in the game are arranged in such a way that the player may die while crossing them. Only those who commit suicide after reaching the 50th stage under the influence of the 'blue whale' are exposed. However, it was not possible to identify whether those who are dying before this are falling into the trap of 'blue whale'.
Why are young people so attracted?
The 'Blue Whale' game is commonly used by depressed youths to become addicted. Especially late at night or alone for long periods of time, those who roam the internet in the social media world, are the ones who are getting involved in it. Besides, there is a desire among the youth to prove themselves the best. Its curators are using it as a trap.
In the 'Blue Whale' game, participants are first asked to prove their courage. That is why they are encouraged to do small acts of bravery. Once you get into it, there is no way out.
Young people are attracted to this game day by day while showing courage in words like new challenges and courage or not. But once you get into this game, it's almost impossible to get out.
How to recognize 'blue whale' addicts?
Teenagers who become addicted to the 'blue whale' game usually try to hide themselves at all times. No normal behavior is seen in them. They spend most of their day on social media. Always quiet. Sometimes talking again with a stranger. Many people can be seen roaming around on the rooftop till late at night. After a while they begin to mutilate their bodies.
What to do to survive this 'blue whale' game?
Psychologists also give some advice to avoid this death trap. They are:
# First you need to be aware. Why you are going to work under the guidance of others, you have to keep that in mind. Why should you follow the words of someone whom you have never seen, whose identity you don't even know, or why you should act according to his words - you have to think about it.
# should avoid any unfamiliar or strange links.
# should spread awareness among the youth of the society about the negative aspects of this game.
# If you see a child, sibling or loved one sitting alone for a long time on a mobile phone or computer, you should find out what they are doing. Children should never be left alone for too long and talk about the evils of these games.
# Children should be inculcated in the mindset of following religious teachings. So that they should understand that committing suicide or mutilating their own body is a big sin.
# Special attention should be paid to whether the child and any other family members are mentally disturbed. Someone who is mentally disturbed needs to be supported.
# Never try to play this game with a curious mind. The game turned from curiosity to addiction. And this addiction may cause death.
English 
Bengali