Blue Whale (game)

The Blue Whale Game (Russian: Синий кит, Siniy kit) land). It had been dubbed by the administrator and set also “Blue Whale Challenge”, is an Internet “game” that to BENY’s hauntingly somber remix of Australian singer is claimed to exist in several countries. The game al- Sarah Blasko's country-folkish song “All I Want” (video legedly consists of a series of tasks assigned to players filmed in Victoria, Australia).[21] by administrators during a 50-day period, with the fi- nal challenge requiring the player to commit suicide.[1][2] The term “Blue Whale” comes from the phenomenon of beached whales, which is linked to suicide. 2 Reported cases Blue Whale began in Russia in 2013 with “F57”, one of the names of the so-called “death group” of the 2.1 Argentina VKontakte social network,[3] and allegedly caused its first suicide in 2015.[4][5] Philipp Budeikin, a former In San Juan Province, Argentina, a 14-year-old boy was psychology student who was expelled from his univer- admitted to intensive care after participating in Blue [22][23][24][25][26] sity, claimed that he invented the game. Budeikin Whale. stated that his purpose was to “clean” the society In La Plata, the grandparents of a 12-year-old girl com- by pushing to suicide those he deemed as having no plained to a police station and expressed concern that she value.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12] had wounded her arm with a sharp object due to Blue [27][28][29] In Russia in 2016, Blue Whale came into broader use Whale. among teenagers after a journalist brought attention to On 27 June 2017, 16-year-old Benjamín Palavecino died it through an article that linked many unrelated suicide in the San Martín de Paraná hospital in the province victims to the Blue Whale, creating a wave of moral of Entre Ríos. He had been hospitalized since 31 May panic in Russia.[13] Later, Budeikin was arrested and 2017, after attempting to complete the final suicide pled guilty to “inciting at least 16 teenage girls to com- challenge.[30] mit suicide”, leading to Russian suicide prevention leg- islation and renewed world-wide concern over the Blue Whale phenomenon.[11] It has also been linked to other 2.2 Brazil rising self-harm trends, such as “human embroidery” in [14] China. In Brazil, the game left victims in Mato Grosso,[31][32][33] and in the cities of Uberlândia,[34] Manhuaçu,[35][36][37] Pará de Minas and Belo Horizonte, in Minas Gerais,[38][39][40] as well as in Feira de Santana, 1 “Game” structure Bahia.[41][42][43][44] In Juazeiro, also in Bahia, a girl supposedly disappeared because of the game.[45] In The game is based on the relationship between the Rio de Janeiro, a mother managed to prevent the challengers (also called players or participants) and the suicide of her daughter who played Blue Whale.[46] administrators.[15][16] It involves a series of duties given In the state of Paraná, the game claimed another vic- by the administrators that players must complete, usually tim in Florestópolis.[47][48][49][50] In Maceió, Deputy one per day, some of which involve self-mutilation.[4][17] Pastor João Luiz (Christian Social Party) reported Some tasks can be given in advance, while others can be in the Legislative Assembly of Alagoas that his niece passed on by the administrators on that day, the last task committed suicide under the influence of the game.[51][52] [18][19] being suicide. In Paulista (Pernambuco), a girl gave testimony af- The list of tasks, to be completed in 50 days, includes ter being threatened in the challenge of the Blue waking up at 4:20 A.M., climbing a crane, carving a spe- Whale,[53][54][55] and in Recife a 19-year-old girl got cific phrase on the person’s own hand or arm, doing se- to the penultimate stage of the game.[56][57] A 15-year- cret tasks, poking a needle to the arm or leg, standing on a old student living in the municipality of Cabo de Santo bridge and roof, listening to music, and watching videos Agostinho in the Recife metropolitan area was found by sent to the challengers by the administrator.[20] One of a man when she was on the parapet of the Buarque de these music videos was originally for Norwegian singer Macedo Bridge in Recife, preparing to jump from it.[58] Emilie Nicolas' upbeat song “Pstereo” (filmed in Scot- With several cuts on her arms, including one in the shape

1 2 2 REPORTED CASES of a whale, she was thought to be attempting to complete lated SIC’s positions and the hoax was stopped immedi- the last phase of the challenge.[59][60] ately. In the state of São Paulo, in the capital, lovers Luis Fer- nando Hauy Kafrune and Kaena Novaes Maciel, aged 19 and 18, stayed at Maksoud Plaza, a luxury hotel in 2.4 Chile the region of the Paulista Avenue, where Luis killed Kaena with a bullet in the head and then commit- ted suicide. Authorities linked this crime with Blue In the Chilean city of Antofagasta, a mother reported to Whale.[61][62][63] A 17-year-old boy from Bauru, a town the police that her 12-year-old daughter had 15 cuts on [87][88][89] from São Paulo, wrote on "A culpa é da her arm that formed the design of a whale. Af- baleia" (“Blame it on the whale”) minutes before at- ter being interviewed by police officers, she confessed tempting to jump an overpass,[61] where he was saved by that she followed game administrator’s instructions while [90][91][92][93] firefighters.[64][65][66][67] playing this game. In the Federal District, on 5 May 2017, four hearing im- A 13-year-old girl in Padre Las Casas played the game paired adolescents playing Blue Whale were prevented along with three other friends. The girl reached the tenth [94] by the Military Police from committing suicide.[68][69] In stage, making cuts in her arms. Estrela (Rio Grande do Sul) a mother prevented the sui- An 11-year-old boy in Temuco accepted an invitation to cide of her daughter, who played Blue Whale.[70][71] join the game on Facebook from an unidentified woman, In Teófilo Otoni, in the region of Vale do Mucuri, Minas but declined to participate after being contacted by a pro- [95] Gerais, a 17-year-old female participant of Blue Whale file named “Ballena Azul”. jumped from the six-meter wall of the property where she lives with her family.[72][73] The young woman survived [74] and was hospitalized. The teenager told the police that 2.5 China she had already cut her arms because of the game and that she had been given the challenge of taking her own life.[75][76][77] In Ningbo City, Zhejiang, a suicide group was founded by a 10-year-old girl who posted several photos of her In Paraíba, police identified 20 young people in- self-mutilation related to the Blue Whale.[96][97][98] Since [18] volved with the game. In Pernambuco, seven were then authorities began to monitor mentions of the game [78][79][80][81] identified. Altogether, seven Brazilian states on forums and live broadcasts.[99][100][101] had cases of suicide and mutilation thought to be con- nected with the game.[82][83][84][85] During the Summer of 2017, Chinese authorities became increasingly concerned with the link between the destruc- tive Blue Whale “game” and the budding self-harm trend 2.3 Bulgaria of "human embroidery"—a form of self-harm popular among teenagers and linked with depressive social media The first news about Blue Whale appeared in mid- posts.[14] February 2017. The emergency was faced by the Safer Internet Centre, established under the Safer Internet plus Programme of the European Commission when “this sen- sationalistic story was inflated by a number of our click- 2.6 Colombia bait websites creating a wave of panic among parents”, as the Centre Coordinator Georgi Apostolov reported. The Criminal Investigation Directorate (Dijin) of the “We decided not to initiate contact directly with the me- National Police of Colombia began an investigation into dia since this would attract additional interest and could three adolescent deaths that could be related to the mislead the public into believing the story to be some- game.[102] how true. As the hype was magnified by thousands shar- ing the story on the social networks, we just published a warning on our website and spread the link in comments under all shared in Facebook articles and posts. Then the 2.7 Georgia mainstream media themselves started asking us for inter- views and quoting our conclusions that it evidently was On 27 May 2017, Rustavi 2 TV reported that a 12-year- a hoax.”[86] Two discussion groups about suicides were old girl tried to commit suicide, allegedly as part of the opened on Facebook, but quickly reported and deleted. game. The girl jumped from the fifth floor but survived The diffusion of the viral news was stopped within two and is undergoing medical treatment at hospital with mul- weeks. Later, when a sensationalist piece in the Roma- tiple injuries and traumas. Police have launched an inves- nian newspaper Gandul caused five more articles in Bul- tigation into the case, but no official statements have been garia reporting the challenge as real, media again circu- made.[103] 2.10 Kenya 3

2.8 India strict rules and powerful tutors. A few days later, the sui- cide of a teenager in Leghorn was linked to the challenge A 16-year-old boy in Kerala was reported to have com- by some newspapers, but an official declaration from the mitted suicide on 26 July 2017, after playing the online Leghorn police denies that: “It is a private tragedy, totally Blue Whale game. Hailing from Thiruvananthapuram, due to familiar reasons”.[112] it was said he ended his life after allegedly completing The debunking site BUTAC reported the total lack of ev- the tasks of this deadly game. Recalling the ordeal, the idence supporting the existence of the game. On 14 May mother of the deceased told the media, boy had commit- 2017, a TV report by Le Iene about the Blue Whale on the ted suicide after deleting all the games from his mobile national channel Italia 1[113] again linked the challenge to phone. Acknowledging that her son had informed her the suicide in Leghorn. The report showed several sui- about playing the fatal game, she said she had persuaded cide scenes, mostly from videos on LiveLeak depicting him to refrain from playing it, but to no avail. She also adults unrelated to the challenge, describing the footage said he had downloaded the game nine months ago and as evidence of teenagers playing the game. The report that he told her not to worry if he dies soon. His mother interviewed a schoolmate of the Leghorn teenager, two also revealed that he used to visit cemeteries during the mothers of Russian girls who supposedly took part in the night and go to the beach alone. One of the tasks assigned game, and the founder of the Russian Center for the safety to the players involved watching the horror videos sent to of children from internet crimes. Following the report, them by promoters of the game, it is believed. The boy coverage of the challenge in the Italian media increased, had also drawn on his wrist with a compass, his mother with many outlets describing it as real. Some published said, adding that he had offered to donate his organs after the full list of 50 rules. There was a sharp rise in his death.[104] searches for the challenge, and some panic. On 30 July 2017, a 14-year-old boy committed suicide On 15 and 16 May, newspapers announced the arrest of by jumping from the seventh floor of an Andheri (East) Budeikin, without saying that it happened months before. building in the city of Mumbai.[105] Maharashtra state His unconfirmed statements about his supposed victims Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis blamed the suicide on being “genetical rubbish” were reported as real. Paolo the Blue Whale game, though the Mumbai Police said Attivissimo, a journalist and debunker of hoaxes, de- they had not found evidence that the teenager had played scribed the game as “a death myth dangerously exagger- the game.[106] ated by sensationalist journalism”. Police received calls On 10 August 2017, a Class VII student in the city of from terrified parents and teachers, and there were re- Indore, State of Madhya Pradesh, was pulled away by ports of teenagers taking part in the challenge. These a group of students, before he could take the final sui- included several cases of self-mutilation and attempted cide leap, off the third floor of the Chamali Devi Public suicide. Most reports were considered to be false or ex- School. The boy apparently recorded the whole 50 stages aggerated. Alleged participants came from all over Italy: of the game, in his school diary.[107] Ravenna,[114] Brescia[115] and Siracusa.[116] On the 22nd On 10 August 2017, a 14-year-old boy on the way to finish the Polizia Postale declared that they had received 40 the Blue Whale challenge was rescued by the Maharashtra alarms. On the 24th this number was increased to 70. Police, who intercepted the bus in which he was travel- On its website the Polizia Postale defines Blue Whale as “a ing to Pune, from his home town of Solapur. After the practice that seems to possibly come from Russia” and of- fers advice to parents and teenagers.[117] Several alleged boy went missing, his parents started enquiring with his [118] friends when they came to know that he was playing the cases have since been described by newspapers. Blue Whale Challenge. [108] On 12 August 2017, a tenth grade student from Anand- 2.10 Kenya pur, West Midnapore district of West Bengal allegedly committed suicide as a result of playing the game. His In Nairobi County, Jamie Njenga, a Form Two student body was discovered in the bathroom, with his face cov- at J. G. Kiereini Secondary School in Kiambu County, ered with a plastic bag tied around his neck by a cotton had played the Blue Whale challenge. He committed sui- cord.[109] cide on 3 May.[119][120] He hanged himself on the bal- cony of a hotel owned by his grandfather in the city centre.[121][122][123][124] 2.9 Italy

In Italy, press coverage of Blue Whale first appeared on 3 2.11 Paraguay June 2016, in the newspaper La stampa, which described the challenge as “a bad joke”.[110] The challenge was men- Federico Pedro Aguilera, a 22-year-old computer sci- tioned again on 3 March 2017, in the national newspapers entist, was found with a sprat, a type of sword, that Il Giornale[111] and Il Messaggero. This time the chal- pierced his chest in Coronel Bogado after playing Blue lenge was described as a real Russian “game”, with 50 Whale.[125][126][127][128] 4 3 REACTIONS

2.12 Portugal linked to Blue Whale. He is the first known victim in the country.[151] Irina Kornutyi, an 18-year-old girl, was admitted to hos- pital with mutilations on her body in Albufeira after she threw herself from an overpass to the railway line.[129][130] 2.15 Serbia Police, parents and friends said that the girl had been mo- tivated to do so by a person on the Internet named as A 13-year-old boy in Velika Plana injured his hand, “Blue Whale”.[129][131] In an interview with RTP, she said telling his parents that he had done so because of Blue [152] that she felt alone, and lacking affection.[132][133][134][135] Whale. The parents reported the case to the police. A 15-year-old boy from Sines was admitted to the Setúbal Hospital after having “drawn” a whale on his arm with 2.16 Spain a sharp object.[136][137][138] There are already at least ninety victims of the Blue Whale challenge identified in In Spain, a teenager was admitted to a psychiatric unit Portugal.[139] of a Barcelona hospital after her family said she started playing Blue Whale.[153][154][155][156][157] 2.13 Russia 2.17 United States In March 2017, authorities in Russia were investigat- ing approximately 130 separate cases of suicide re- In the city of San Antonio, Texas, the body of a 15-year- lated to the phenomenon.[140] In February, 15-year-old old was found on 8 July 2017. A cellphone had broadcast Yulia Konstantinova and 16-year-old Veronika Volkova the teen’s suicide, which is believed to be related to the threw themselves off the top of a 14-story building game.[158] in Irkutsk, Siberia after completing 50 tasks sent to It is also alleged that the game was tied to a teen’s death [141][142] them. Before they killed themselves together, Yu- in Atlanta, Georgia.[159] lia and Veronika left messages on their pages on social networks.[142] Yulia published the photo of a large blue whale and then wrote “End”.[143] Veronika had previously 2.18 Uruguay posted things like “Do you feel that you become useless?" and “I am just a ghost”. On the day of her death she wrote In the city of Rivera, 450 kilometers from Montevideo, a “Sense is lost... End”.[144] Also in February, a girl known 13-year-old girl was hospitalized at a local hospital af- as Ekaterina, 15, was in critical condition after throwing ter employees of the school she attended reported in- herself out of an apartment and falling on snow-covered juries to her left arm.[160][161][162] Adolescents victimized ground in the town of Krasnoyarsk, also in Siberia.[145] by the Blue Whale game are being investigated in six On 11 May 2017, Russian media reported that Philipp departments: Montevideo, Canelones, Colonia, Río Ne- [163][164] Budeikin “plead guilty to inciting teenagers to suicide,” gro, Salto and Rivera. having described his victims as “biological waste” and [11][12] claiming he was “cleansing society.” He was held 2.19 Venezuela at Kresty Prison in St Petersburg with charges of “incit- ing at least 16 teenage girls to kill themselves.”[11] A 15-year-old student from Nazareth College in the city On 26 May 2017, Russian Duma (parliament) passed a of Puerto Ordaz committed suicide after taking part in bill introducing criminal responsibility for creating pro- Blue Whale on the night of 27 April 2017.[165] suicide groups on social media, in the wake of 130 teen deaths linked to the Blue Whale suicide challenge.[146] On 7 June 2017, President Putin signed a law imposing crim- 3 Reactions inal penalties for inducing minors to suicide.[147] The law imposes a maximum punishment of six years in prison. In March 2017, Romanian Minister of Internal Affairs On 8 June 2017, Ilya Sidorov, 26, one of the game’s ad- Carmen Dan expressed her deep concerns about the ministrators, was arrested in Moscow.[148][149][150] phenomenon.[166] Mayor of Bucharest Gabriela Firea de- scribed the game as “extremely dangerous”.[167] 2.14 Saudi Arabia The game has caused significant concern in Western Eu- rope, including France[168] and the United Kingdom.[169] On 5 June 2017, a 13-year-old boy 'Metlaq Affas Al- In Brazil, in response to the game, a designer and a bugami' committed suicide in his room, where his body publicity agent from São Paulo created a movement was discovered by his mother. The boy used his called Baleia Rosa (Pink Whale),[170][171] which became PlayStation wires to commit suicide. His death has been viral and relied on the collaboration of hundreds of 5 volunteers.[172][173][174] The movement is based on posi- • tive tasks that value life and combat depression.[175] Also in Brazil, Sandro Sanfelice created the movement Capi- vara Amarela (Yellow Capybara),[176] which proposes to 5 References “combat the Blue Whale game” and guide people seek- [177] ing some kind of help. Participants are separated be- [1] “Blue Whale: Should you be worried about online pres- tween challengers, who are the people who seek help, sure groups?". and the healers, who are kind of godfathers of these people.[178] An Adventist school in southern Paraná, in [2] “Teen 'Suicide Games’ Send Shudders Through Russian- partnership with other education networks, also sought to Speaking World”. RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Re- reverse the situation by proposing another charity game, trieved 2017-06-23. the "Jonas Challenge" (referring to the biblical character [3] Администратор «групп смерти». Чистосердечное Jonah, who was vomited up by a large fish three days af- признание (АУДИОЗАПИСЬ). Saint-Petersburg.ru, 15 ter being swallowed by it).[179][180] Other games created November 2016. URL retrieved 28 April 2017. in Brazil in response to the Blue Whale were the Baleia Verde (Green Whale) and the Preguiça Azul (Blue Sloth). [4] “Baleia Azul, o jogo suicida que preocupa o Brasil e o mundo”. Terra. In the United States, one site, also called the “Blue Whale Challenge” does not immediately identify itself as an ef- [5] “Baleia Azul, o jogo suicida que preocupa o Brasil e o fort to combat the game, but offers fifty days of chal- mundo”. jb.com.br. lenges that promote mental health and well-being. [181] [182][183][184][185] [6] “Preso, criador do jogo “Baleia Azul” diz que estava “limpando o lixo da sociedade” - Internacional - BOL Author Glória Perez stated on 21 April that she plans Notícias”. noticias.bol.uol.com.br. Retrieved 13 June to include the Blue Whale game in her new telenovela, 2017. A Força do Querer.[186][187][188][189][190] The media also [7] “Homem que inventou jogo da Baleia Azul diz querer uma stressed that the phenomenon coincided with the contro- “limpeza social"". Metrópoles. Retrieved 13 June 2017. versy surrounding the web television series 13 Reasons Why, which addresses the issue of teen suicide.[191][192] [8] Paulo, iG São (10 May 2017). “Preso, criador do jogo Baleia Azul fala em 'limpeza da sociedade' - Mundo - iG”. In Belo Horizonte and Recife metropolitan area in Brazil, Retrieved 13 June 2017. many schools promoted lectures to talk about the Blue Whale game.[193][194] The Police Specialized in High [9] “Preso um dos criadores da Baleia Azul: ‘Estava limpando Technology Crime Repression (Dercat) in Piauí is prepar- o lixo’ - Capricho”. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 13 June ing a digital primer to warn young people about the dan- 2017. [195][196][197] gers of the game. [10] Redação (10 May 2017). “Criador do jogo de suicídio In May 2017, authorities of the Mexican state of Baleia Azul é preso e diz que fez 'limpeza da sociedade'". Michoacán issued an alert warning about the pos- Retrieved 13 June 2017. sibility of the Blue Whale challenge to invade the [11] “Blue whale challenge administrator pleads guilty to incit- [198][199] country. ing suicide - BBC Newsbeat”. BBC Newsbeat. 2017-11- In May 2017, , China’s largest Internet service 05. Retrieved 2017-06-23. portal, closed 12 suspicious Blue Whale-related network [12] "Биомусор". Новая газета - Novayagazeta.ru (in Rus- groups on its social networking platform QQ, as the num- sian). Retrieved 2017-06-23. ber of this kind of groups is on the rise.[200] The search re- sults of related keywords was also blocked in QQ.[201][202] [13] “FACT CHECK: 'Blue Whale' Game Responsible for Dozens of Suicides in Russia?". 27 February 2017. Re- In August 2017, the Government of India's Ministry of trieved 13 June 2017. Electronics and Information Technology directed sev- eral internet companies (including Google, Facebook, [14] Allen, Kerry (2017-06-23). “Online concern over Chi- and Yahoo) to remove all links which direct users to the nese 'human embroidery' trend”. BBC News. Retrieved 2017-06-23. game.[203] [15] “Polícia Civil tem acesso a conversas de vítima de Baleia Azul com ‘curadores’". globo.com.

4 See also [16] “Polícia busca ‘curadores’ do Baleia-Azul - Brasil - Es- tadão”. Brasil Estadao. • Choking game [17] “Curadores do 'jogo da baleia azul' podem ser indiciados por homicídio, diz delegada”. Globo. • [18] “Polícia busca 'curadores’ do jogo online Baleia-Azul - • Peer pressure Agência Estado - UOL Notícias”. UOL. 6 5 REFERENCES

[19] “Baleia Azul, o jogo suicida que preocupa o Brasil e o [39] “Baleia Azul: Entidades se mobilizam para frear jogo sui- mundo”. Globo. cida; BH registra primeira morte” [Blue whale: entities mobilise to stop suicide game; Belo Horizonte registers [20] ""Blue Whale Challenge” Phenomenon”. Eyerys. first death]. Belo Horizonte A–Z (in Portuguese). 17 Apr [21] “Emilie Nicolas 'Pstereo' by Emile Rafael on Promo 2017. News”. Retrieved 13 June 2017. [40] “Polícia apura segunda morte causada por jogo “Baleia [22] Merenda, Enrique. “San Juan: un chico intentó suicidarse Azul” em Minas Gerais” [Police registers second death siguiendo una consigna del mortal juego de “la ballena caused by ‘Blue whale’ game in Minas Gerais]. R7 (in azul"" (3 May s017). La Nación. Retrieved 27 June 2017. Portuguese). Record.

[23] “Primer caso del juego suicida “La Ballena Azul” en la [41] “Baleia Azul: Feira de Santana registra primeiro caso de Argentina: un joven de 14 años, en terapia intensiva”. in- tentativa de suicídio”. midiabahia.com.br. 21 April 2017. fobae.com. [42] “Baleia Azul: Feira de Santana registra primeiro caso de [24] “La primera víctima argentina de la 'Ballena Azul' es de tentativa de suicídio”. bocaonews.com.br. San Juan”. losandes.com.ar. 5 March 2017. [43] “Desafio da Baleia Azul é investigado pela polícia de Feira [25] “Primer caso argentino de “la Ballena Azul": un nene pe- de Santana - portalradioreporter.com.br”. portalradiore- lea por su vida”. minutouno.com. porter.com.br.

[26] “Un chico sanjuanino es la primera víctima de la “Ballena [44] “Primeiro caso do “Baleia Azul” é registrado pela polícia Azul” en la Argentina - TN.com.ar”. Todo Noticias. em Feira de Santana”. lfnews.com.br.

[27] “La macabra 'Ballena Azul' ya llegó a la Argentina: 2 ca- [45] “Garota de 15 anos desaparece na Bahia e família suspeita sos”. urgente24.com. de jogo da 'Baleia Azul'" [15-year-old girl disappears in Bahia and family suspects of ‘Blue Whale’ game]. G1 (in [28] “Investigan otro posible caso de “Ballena Azul” en La Portuguese). Globo. Plata - TN.com.ar”. Todo Noticias.

[29] “Se conoció el segundo caso de “ballena azul”, ahora en [46] “Polícia diz que mãe impediu suicídio de filha que jogou La Plata - Tiempo de San Juan”. tiempodesanjuan.com. 'Baleia Azul' no RJ”.

[30] “Murió un adolescente en Entre Ríos por cumplir con un [47] “Jogo “Baleia Azul” é suspeito de provocar mais desafío del juego de la “ballena azul"". La Nación. 27 uma morte no Paraná - Paraná Portal”. paranapor- June 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017. tal.uol.com.br.

[31] “Adolescente de Mato Grosso se mata após o 'Desafio da [48] “Adolescente tira a própria vida em Florestópolis; Jogo Baleia Azul'" [Mato Grosso teenager kills himself after da Baleia Azul pode ter influenciado a morte”. jornalter- ‘Blue whale challenge’]. Estimula net (in Portuguese). Apr ceiraopiniao.com.br. 24 April 2017. 2017. [49] Tarobá, TV. “Adolescente de 15 anos tira a própria vida; [32] “Jogo da baleia azul e morte de estudante em Mato Grosso suspeita é de relação com o jogo Baleia Azul”. www. é destaque na Veja” [Veja magazine highlights Blue whale tarobalondrina.com.br. game and death of student in Mato Grosso]. Hiper notícias (in Portuguese). [50] “Menino de 15 anos comete suicídio em Florestópolis: Jogo da baleia azul pode ter influenciado a morte”. www. [33] “Adolescente de Mato Grosso se mata após o ‘Desafio da rolandia190.com.br. Baleia Azul’" [Mato Grosso teenager kills himself after ‘Blue Whale challenge’]. Cenário MT (in Portuguese). 12 [51] “Deputado alerta para suicídios associados ao “desafio da Apr 2017. Baleia Azul"". Aqui Acontece.

[34] TEMPO, O (28 April 2017). “Participante do jogo 'Baleia [52] “Após suicídio de sobrinha, deputado alerta sobre “Baleia Azul' tenta se matar em Uberlândia”. otempo.com.br. Azul” - Política - Cada Minuto”. www.cadaminuto.com. br. [35] “Adolescente de Manhuaçu pode ser a nova vítima do jogo “Baleia Azul"". guiamuriae.com.br. [53] “Garota presta depoimento após ser ameaçada no Desafio da Baleia Azul”. [36] “Adolescente de 13 anos moradora da cidade de Man- huaçu pode ter sido vítima de jogo “Baleia Azul” - Doc- [54] “Polícia investiga primeira denúncia de Desafio da Baleia tumTV - Eu me vejo aqui”. www.doctumtv.com.br. Azul em PE - Notícias - Notícias - Cotidiano”.

[37] TEMPO, O (19 April 2017). “Menina de 13 anos [55] “Baleia Azul já faz cinco vítimas em Pernambuco”. pode ser nova vítima do jogo 'Baleia Azul' em Minas”. otempo.com.br. [56] “Polícia Civil investiga caso mais grave do jogo Baleia Azul em PE”. Metrópoles. Retrieved 13 June 2017. [38] “Jovem de Pará de Minas morre ao jogar 'Baleia Azul' na internet” [Pará of Minas youngster dies playing ‘Blue [57] “Garota de 19 anos chegou à penúltima tarefa do Baleia whale’ on the Internet]. O tempo (in Portuguese). Azul no Recife”. Retrieved 13 June 2017. 7

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