It was around two o’clock in the night when there was such a silence on the ninth floor of ‘Bharat City Society’ in Ghaziabad, which was indicating the coming storm. Three sisters – 12 year old Pakhi, 14 year old Prachi and 16 year old Vishika were present in their room. The world outside was sleeping, but the intoxication of a mobile game was rampant in the minds of these three. Suddenly the three sisters moved towards the balcony holding each other’s hands and jumped down without any hesitation. By morning the entire area was shocked by this news. When the police searched the room, a suicide note found there stunned everyone. It was written on that paper, “Mom-Papa, sorry… I am not able to leave the game. Now you will realize how much we loved the game, which you wanted to get rid of.” According to initial police investigation, the three sisters were addicted to playing a “Korean love game”.
Had become addicted to dangerous game
According to family members, these three sisters were very close to each other. They ate together, slept together and lived as each other’s shadow. But during the Corona period, when the world went online, these girls got mobile phones in their hands. Gradually she started getting cut off from studies and the outside world and started staying glued to the phone all day long. The father tried many times to snatch the phone from him and remove the games, but the addiction had become so deep that it became impossible to stop him. The three sisters had even stopped going to school and their entire world revolved around that mysterious game. Now the question arises that what is this game and how does it completely control the minds of children?
‘Korean Love Game’: Used to give the task of death in the name of love
Actually, this is not an ordinary game that can be played for entertainment. This is a chat based game in which the person in front starts talking by introducing himself as a Korean boy or girl. The game perfectly takes advantage of the growing popularity of Korean culture, K-pop, and K-dramas. Gradually the chat turns into romance in which the player has to complete some tasks to prove his love for the imaginary person. This imaginary partner talks sweetly in Korean style, sends romantic messages and gives new tasks every day.
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In the beginning these tasks seem very normal, but gradually the game starts taking a dangerous turn. As the game progresses, the user is given tasks such as self-harm and ultimately death.
The objective is like the ‘Blue Whale’ game.
The surprising thing is that the game is not available on any app store, but still people are downloading and playing it. This game is played online on mobile. This game is spread on the Internet through different websites and secret links. It is also speculated that the game is also being circulated through Telegram and WhatsApp groups.
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Police investigation has also suspected that the purpose of this game could be like the old ‘Blue Whale’ game, in which 50 tasks were given and as the 50th task one was asked to commit suicide. Ultimately this game was banned by the Government of India in 2017. Same thing happened in the case of these sisters from Ghaziabad. They were so deeply connected to each other that they embraced death together to complete the final task of the game. She was so entangled in the illusion of the game that the value of her life seemed small in comparison to that virtual world. Ghaziabad Police is now doing forensic investigation of those mobile phones so that the exact name of the game and the task given in it can be linked.
How to protect children from this game?
- Due to alienation from parents, many times children start searching for real love in virtual relationships. Experts say that when emotional attachment with such games increases, children stop distinguishing between right and wrong and start considering it important to complete every task.
- In this game, unknown people connect with children through chatbots or messaging apps. Since this game talks about love and emotions, teenage children easily get trapped in it.
- This incident is a big warning to the society that online addiction is not only a waste of time but can also be fatal. To protect children from such games, parents will have to keep a close eye on the digital activities of children and changes in their behavior so that the lamp of any other house does not go out like this.
