A first-year Indian student at the University of Massachusetts was found dead in March and authorities are investigating the case as an apparent suicide. The 20-year-old man is believed to have been playing Blue Whale Challenge, an online game also known as the “suicide game”.

What is the Blue Whale game challenge?

Blue Whale Challenge is an online game that originated in Russia and is notorious for its sinister nature. It usually involves a series of tasks or challenges assigned to players by curators over 50 days.

The first mission might include challenges such as “Wake up in the middle of the night” or “Watch a scary movie.” But gradually, they escalated into more dangerous and sinister challenges, such as “Stand on a tower ledge” or “Slice a whale into your arm.” The final challenge ended with the user being asked to commit suicide.

Participants are often forced to complete these tasks through threats, blackmail, or psychological manipulation. The game takes its name from the behavior of blue whales, which are known to intentionally beach themselves, often resulting in the whale’s death.

In 2019, reports that the Blue Whale Challenge was allegedly linked to hundreds of suicide deaths spread from Russia to other countries including Ukraine, India, and the United States

The story of the Blue Whale Challenge goes back to the tragic story of Lina Palenkova. On November 22, 2015, Ms. Palenkova, a girl from Russia, posted a selfie online. In the photo, she stood outdoors, covering her mouth and nose with a black scarf, while exposing her middle finger, which appeared to be stained with dried blood. The caption read: “Goodbye Nia.” The next day, Ms. Palenkova committed suicide.