Do you know what is hiding in that innocent game your child is playing on your iPad?

Do you know what is hiding in that innocent game your child is playing on your iPad?

In Line with our Cyber Awareness month, we are sharing this story for you to protect the innocent - your children.

There are so many bizarre, wacky things happening online. Good and Bad. This is really the Bad stuff.

In 2017, a sick online game called Blue Whale Challenge surfaced in the UK. The game is said to be ran by an ‘unknown admin’ that encourages it's users to harm themselves and others, and eventually commit suicide. The game targets children and hack into their Facebook accounts, threatening them to harm them. Yes, a ‘childrens game’.

Now a new Satanic online game is making rounds today and as parents we have to be very, very concerned. This is called the Momo Challenge. (go and check it out)    The challenge is that kids will be given 51 tasks, one by one. Just like watching a horror movie, it steps them through and has them harm themselves. On the last day of the challenge, they will be instructed to take their lives. (How sick are some people?)

Why parents should be worried is that it actually targets children by posing as a very innocent video on YouTube like Peppa Pig, Fortnite and Minecraft. Sounds familiar? Yes, because these are the videos our children watch online. Children watch an innocent video and then part way through, it changes to a horrific game that terrifies children and gets them into the game itself.

As you know, most of our staff are located in the Philippines. The news of an 11 year old boy who died after he took 20 pills of his father’s gout medication is now a trending topic. The parents of the boy investigated and learned that their child had been playing the ‘suicide game’ and exchanging self harm images amongst friends on messaging apps. The parents also learned that another classmate had committed suicide before their child did. What scares them most was the last words their child said in the hospital before he passed. “I will follow my master and kill them all”. Who in their right mind can do this to children?

These incidents are becoming more common  and we have to do everything to prevent this from happening. Think of it as travelling to another country-- would you let your child wander the streets alone? The internet can be a dangerous place for children especially those under 14. The hazards can be frightening and may haunt them later in life when they can not take the situation back anymore.

As a parent you have a duty to understand what your child is playing or watching online. When was the last time you actually played a game yourself to check the parental rating? Do me and your child a favour, Go home tonight and sit down with them and have a solid conversation on Cyber Safety. Their life may depend on it.

If you would like to discuss cyber safety for your children, Esther is available to speak. Please email us at [email protected]