Online challenges Introduce Sinister Risk

Editor’s Note: This feature may be upsetting to some readers.

There have been a wide variety of challenges throughout social media that are dangerous to play but many children, teens and adults participate anyway. The novelty of engaging in a challenge can influence bad decisions and some go too far. Some participate in these challenges to gain viewers.

However, the Blue Whale Challenge and the Momo Challenge can cost a life.

The Tide Pod Challenge involved biting into laundry detergent packets and chewing them. Laundry detergent is highly toxic and can cause harm if eaten or swallowed.

The Cinnamon Challenge was an impossible goal involving eating a tablespoon of cinnamon powder in 60 seconds without liquids, which if inhaled can cause damage to the lungs.

The Salt and Ice Challenge involved children and adults pouring salt on their arms and running an ice cube along their skin, resulting in serious burns.

Anyone can post anything on the web, but the internet is not a safe place. Some sites are darker than others.

The Blue Whale Challenge is named after the phenomenon of beak nosed and pilot whales deliberately beaching themselves.  There are many theories as to why the whales do this.

Whales in shallow water send distress calls via sonar, causing some dominant whales to lead an entire pod, a group of whales, to shore.  

In 2013, Philipp Budeikin, 21, of Moscow created the Blue Whale Challenge at the age of 16. The challenge involves brainwashing vulnerable teenagers by breaking down their spirit.

Their mindset is changed with a different view, a set of behaviors and actions over a period of 50 days by urging them to complete harmful tasks.

Daily Mail News reported on Sept. 30 that Budeikin was arrested for murdering 16 girls. He was also responsible for organizing a group that promoted suicide on the Russian social media site Vkontakte.

In English, Vkontakte means “in contact with.”  The group was called F57 and attracted many teens who were struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts.

“For a while, I would laugh along as I watched while everyone tried to understand what ‘F57’ meant. It’s simple: F is for Philipp, my name, and 57 were the last digits of my telephone number at the time,” Budeikin said.

He reached out to depressed teenage girls over social media and acted as a support system for those who felt they did not have anyone to talk to about their feelings. Budeikin then personally convinced teens to consider suicide.

After his arrest, Budeikin said he was “cleansing the society” by killing depressed teens.

VICE News reports, “I thought the entire project up, the different levels and the different steps. It was necessary to separate the normal people from the scum.”

Victims are chosen by the curators. The victims’ ages range from 13 to 19. They were residents of Russia and were contacted through private messaging on social media.

The tasks are moderately simple on day one and an increase in violence over a 50 day period. The simpler tasks range from watching horror movies, listening to music or strange noises sent by the curator and sketching a whale on paper.

The much darker and destructive tasks consist of self-harm or killing animals. Another task was to prepare the victims for suicide by having them find a railroad or stand on the edge of a building without jumping, mentally preparing them for how they might end their lives.

VICE News reported that “Wake me up at 4:20” was a secondary name for the Blue Whale Challenge. Participants are required to send selfies and videos providing proof that the tasks are completed.

The challenge was also played in Egypt, killing an 18-year-old. The death sparked up fear and panic which led to banning the challenge. So far, the challenge is only banned in Egypt.

Vkontakte is ranked second globally in social networks and is geared toward Eastern European users. The site is available in many languages, including English.

Some minors engage with curators in attempts to outsmart them, or are curious to see if the challenge is legitimate. Those who struggle with suicidal thoughts and depression see the challenge as a way to end their lives.

The images found by searching these hashtags may be graphic and triggering.

The “#bluewhalechallenge” and “#ImAWhale” can be found on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter along with another suicide challenge known as The Momo Challenge.

The Momo Challenge is similar to the Blue Whale Challenge, except there is no time frame. It encourages minors to perform acts of self-harm that end with suicide.

This challenge also pushes people who participate to follow orders after communicating with Momo. If refused, participants are threatened with violent, graphic and triggering images.

The WhatsApp profile picture of “Momo” is of a bird woman. She has bulging eyes, black straggly hair, bird legs and lips pulled from ear to ear.

The image was taken from a Japanese special effects company sculpture created by Link Factory titled “Mother Bird.” Link Factory is not associated with the challenge.

The challenge can be played via Facebook but is most popular on a messaging app allowing texting unknown numbers and out of the country with no charge called WhatsApp.

Many Momo accounts on WhatsApp are copycat accounts, and it is believed they are used as bait to gain access to personal information. Colorado 9 News states users are hacked, and their private information is posted online.  

Some users that message the Momo accounts do not get a reply back. It is unclear who is behind the accounts or challenge. The Washington Post states Momo accounts appear to be connected to different numbers in Japan, Columbia and Mexico.

Depression is common during teenage years.  The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health states, “Depression is one of the most common emotional health problems among youth, with an estimated 11 percent of U.S. adolescents diagnosed with depression by age.”

Whether through social media, magazines, music and television, there is a high standard in how society portrays itself.

Teens feel the need to live up to certain standards in order to feel accepted, which ultimately can make things worse. Family issues, financial problems, bullies, and personal struggles can also affect the way teens think about themselves.

On August 23, the New York Times reported Governor Jerry Brown is expected to sign legislation requiring public schools to print the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number on the identification cards for students in grades 7 through 12 by July 2019.

Though California will further promote this information, people need to recognize depression and suicidal thoughts instead of feeding them by engaging in dangerous social media challenges. Discussing mental health with trusted friends and family is the first step towards a better tomorrow.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

Citrus College Counseling and Advisement Center: (626) 914-8530