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'Blue Whale game' blamed in suicide of Texas teenager | 'Blue Whale game' blamed in suicide of Texas teenager |
(35 minutes later) | |
A Texas family says their teenage son killed himself because of a rumoured internet challenge known as Blue Whale. | A Texas family says their teenage son killed himself because of a rumoured internet challenge known as Blue Whale. |
Isaiah Gonzales, 15, took his life on Saturday morning in San Antonio city. His father warned parents to be aware of their children's online activities. | Isaiah Gonzales, 15, took his life on Saturday morning in San Antonio city. His father warned parents to be aware of their children's online activities. |
"I want them to go through their phones, look at their social media," Jorge Gonzales told San Antonio's KSAT-TV. "We had no signs at all." | "I want them to go through their phones, look at their social media," Jorge Gonzales told San Antonio's KSAT-TV. "We had no signs at all." |
Blue Whale is said to set tasks ending in suicide, but some say it is a hoax. | Blue Whale is said to set tasks ending in suicide, but some say it is a hoax. |
BBC Advice has help and information if you or someone you know is affected by suicide. | BBC Advice has help and information if you or someone you know is affected by suicide. |
It has been linked to a spate of young people's suicides around the world. | It has been linked to a spate of young people's suicides around the world. |
Individuals are said to be given a 50-day set of challenges by an online anonymous "master". | |
These tasks are said to become increasingly dangerous, from watching horror films all night to self-mutilation and so on. | These tasks are said to become increasingly dangerous, from watching horror films all night to self-mutilation and so on. |
Schools across the US, France and UK have issued warnings to parents about Blue Whale. | Schools across the US, France and UK have issued warnings to parents about Blue Whale. |
The case in Texas is not the first in the US to be linked to the game. | The case in Texas is not the first in the US to be linked to the game. |
A 16-year-old girl in the US state of Georgia died while participating in Blue Whale, family members told CNN on Monday. | A 16-year-old girl in the US state of Georgia died while participating in Blue Whale, family members told CNN on Monday. |
"It's a real thing. I lost my sister to it," the unnamed girl's brother told the network. | "It's a real thing. I lost my sister to it," the unnamed girl's brother told the network. |
The Texas and Georgia cases would be the first US deaths linked to the internet fad, if confirmed, according to the Washington Post. | The Texas and Georgia cases would be the first US deaths linked to the internet fad, if confirmed, according to the Washington Post. |
Emotional Distress: Information and Support | Emotional Distress: Information and Support |
Where to get help | Where to get help |
If you are depressed and need to ask for help, there's advice on who to contact at BBC Advice. | If you are depressed and need to ask for help, there's advice on who to contact at BBC Advice. |
From Canada or US: If you're in an emergency, please call 911. If you or someone you know is suffering with mental-health issues, call Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868. If you're in the US, you can text HOME to 741741 | From Canada or US: If you're in an emergency, please call 911. If you or someone you know is suffering with mental-health issues, call Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868. If you're in the US, you can text HOME to 741741 |
From UK: Call Samaritans on 116123 or Childline on 0800 1111 | From UK: Call Samaritans on 116123 or Childline on 0800 1111 |
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