26 September 2023 , 11:38
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Warnings have been issued to parents after a Brit was stabbed to death in Portugal while playing the Blue Whale "suicide challenge".
The so-called game, which was allegedly created in Russia in 2016, is thought to be linked to a number of deaths across the globe. The challenge is made up of 50 tasks over the course of 50 days that ends with the player taking their own life.
The game is closely associated with an fictional internet character called Jonathan Galindo, or Cursed Goofy, who contacts players to participate in the game. He is known for his creepy Goofy dog mask.
Professor of behavioural addiction at Nottingham Trent University has urged parents to take note of how their children's moods are changing in order to identify if they're playing the game.
Police working at the site of the stabbing (Correio da Manhã)Speaking to the MailOnline, he said: "If the game even really exists, those in control of the game prey on young impressionable individuals (i.e., young teenagers) particularly those who are depressed and socially withdrawn."
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Another expert, Carolyn Bunting MBE and co-CEO of online safety NGO Internet Matters, added: "No matter how digitally savvy you might think your children are, they can still be vulnerable, often not having the critical thinking and emotional maturity to deal with harmful content that can be available online."
Portuguese police confirmed they had arrested a British man on suspicion of killing another Brit, though neither have yet been named. The pair were said to be living with another half-a-dozen other Brits in an "off-grid" community. Police found the victim’s body in remote woodland between the localities of Poco Negro and Soalheira, near the town of Pedrogao Grande. The suspect reportedly handed himself in and said he murdered the victim while playing the Blue Whale game.
Dr Griffiths added that parents should be on the lookout for key signs, like becoming withdrawn or trying to avoid communication. If they leave the home at odd times, or get up very early for extended spells, this could also indicate something is wrong. Other signs include taking selfies at risky locations and an obsession with self-harm sites.
The doctor added that parents have "every right" to check their children's internet usage and smartphones. Those participating in the Blue Whale game may also draw the contest's symbols on their bedroom walls, or arms and legs.
The Samaritans is available 24/7 if you need to talk. You can contact them for free by calling 116 123, email [email protected] or head to the website to find your nearest branch. You matter.