A news that has sent shock waves in India is the suicide of 16 year old Manoj C Manu from Tiruvananthapuram, Kerala on the 16th of July which his mother has now stated because of playing an online game called "Bluewhale Challenge"

"Blue Whale Challenge" game originated in Russia, where its founder Ilya Sidorov, 26, a postman was arrested for causing the death of 32 teenagers. In the game there are curators who target vulnerable youngsters and give them 50 tasks in 50 days with the final one being taking ones own life. Horrific tasks include waking up at 4.20 am every day, watching horror videos, cutting oneself, isolating from family, taking trips alone to dangerous places and finally jumping off a high rise building.

Manoj`s mom has said that his behavior changed from November last time and he seemed very depressed, asking her questions like what she will do if she loses him and so on. Finally, when he hung himself in his home on the dreadful day the police initially filed the case as unnatural death, but now have reopened it after his mom`s plea.

The "Bluewhale Challenge" game using a hashtag is said to exist in social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other messenger services like Whatsapp. Banning it is not easy as it is not an app and it is up to parents to watch over what their children are doing with a phone in hand. It is imperative that our children should be protected against such evils that resides on their palms itself and you have none to blame other than your own ignorance or negligence.