Blue Whale Challenge: Perceptions of First Responders in Medical Profession

CONTEXT: Blue Whale Challenge is a phenomenon which gained its early foothold on the internet chatboards. It is a dare-based harmful game which has a list of fifty tasks which you perform culminating in one's death on the final task. The fatalities caused by individuals playing this game have been reported first in Russia and followed by at least twenty countries reporting it, including India. AIMS: This study was conducted to assess perceptions and knowhow of the first responders in medical profession about online challenges. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifty-four medical professionals who practice either psychiatry, clinical psychology, or pediatrics were interviewed using a semi-structured open-ended survey was administered and data were obtained. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Descriptive statistics was used. RESULTS: Thirty-five (65%) of the total participants have heard about the Blue Whale Challenge but lacked further knowledge about the game. Ten percent of total participants knew about other internet challenges. Only 26% of total participants were largely aware about the details and harmful nature of the game. Only 12 (22%) participants knew the signs to identify the children playing this game. None of the practitioners reported of having encountered any parent or child enquiring or reporting this in their practice at the time of conducting the survey. CONCLUSIONS: The medical fraternity is lagging behind in updating themselves of the online phenomena which are important for the better outcome of children presenting with participation in online challenges. The nature of the game has been discussed, and guidelines for identifying vulnerable population have been put forward.