I wanted to make families aware of a new social media app that I just learned about which could have serious implications. The Blue Whale Challenge is an app that instructs its participants (many preteens) to carry out increasingly dangerous tasks and self-harm over 50 days. Users are encouraged to tag friends on social media and 'challenge' them to participate in the game.
It's very concerning because these apps are targeting a very vulnerable population. I would encourage parents to: * ask your kids if there are ANY new games or popular challenges that they or their friends are hearing about or playing on social media or online * search for hashtags like #BlueWhaleChallenge and/or photos of a blue whale on your kids' social media accounts.
This post is not meant to alarm anyone, but rather to encourage parents to be proactive in protecting their children from potential negative influences on the internet. |