WHILE technology has made our lives easier, it has at the same time created some serious issues.

Ludo Star, Candy Crush and Pokémon Go Adventure are the trending online games in Pakistan nowadays. However, amidst all these fun and entertainment games, there is one dangerous online game ‘Blue Whale’ which has taken the Internet by storm in South Asia.

Blue Whale is not just a game; it leads to suicide of the player. It has 50 tasks and the final task is to kill oneself.

According to a Russian investigative newspaper Novaya Gazeta, this game is responsible for 130 suicides globally so far.

The most vulnerable group is teenagers who love to play and socialise online. If the players refuse to play, they are threaten that the administrator possesses all their personal information and would bring harm to them or to their loved ones.

It is necessary to keep an eye on social media platforms and report to Pakistan’s cybercrime authorities if any one comes across groups that are spreading Blue Whale challenges.

Kiran Fatima

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2017