Department of Anthropology, (Centre for Advanced Studies in Anthropology), Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160 014, India.
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, India.
Sci Eng Ethics. 2019 Feb;25(1):285-291. doi: 10.1007/s11948-017-0004-2. Epub 2017 Nov 11.
A bewildering range of games are emerging every other day with newer elements of fun and entertainment to woo youngsters. Games are meant to reduce stress and enhance the cognitive development of children as well as adults. Teenagers are always curious to indulge in newer games; and e-gaming is one such platform providing an easy access and quicker means of entertainment. The particular game challenge which has taken the world by storm is the dangerous "Blue Whale Challenge" often involving vulnerable teenagers. The Blue Whale Challenge is neither an application nor internet based game but the users get a link through social media chat groups to enter this "deadly" challenge game. This probably is the only game where the participant has to end his/her life to complete the game. The innocent teenagers are being targeted based on their depressed psychology and are coercively isolated from their social milieux on the pretext of keeping the challenges confidential. To add to the woes, no option is offered to quit the challenge even if the contender is unable to complete the challenge. Blue Whale Challenge in its sheer form could be seen as an illegal, unethical and inhumane endeavor in our present society. The present communication discusses the severe effects of the game on teenagers, the ethical concerns involved and the preventive measures necessary to curb it.
每天都有令人眼花缭乱的新游戏出现，它们具有更新的娱乐元素，旨在吸引年轻人。游戏旨在减轻压力，提高儿童和成人的认知能力。青少年总是热衷于尝试新游戏；而电子游戏就是这样一个提供便捷和快速娱乐的平台。席卷全球的特别游戏挑战是危险的“蓝鲸挑战”，通常涉及易受伤害的青少年。蓝鲸挑战既不是应用程序也不是基于互联网的游戏，但用户通过社交媒体聊天群获得链接，进入这个“致命”的挑战游戏。这可能是唯一一个参与者必须结束自己的生命才能完成游戏的游戏。无辜的青少年成为目标，是因为他们有抑郁心理，被以保持挑战机密为由，从社交环境中被迫孤立。更糟糕的是，即使参赛者无法完成挑战，也没有选择退出挑战。在我们目前的社会中，蓝鲸挑战本身可以被视为一种非法、不道德和不人道的行为。本通讯讨论了该游戏对青少年的严重影响、所涉及的伦理问题以及遏制该游戏所需的预防措施。
