Bhubaneswar: Amid online suicide games like Momo Challenge posing threat to children and concerns for their parents, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has now advised school principals to take measures to prevent students from indulging in these self-harming games.
Sharing an advisory about the game from Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology with the school heads, the CBSE stated, "In the game, members are challenged to communicate with unknown numbers. The game consists of self-harming dares which become risky as the game progresses and it finally ends with a suicide challenge. It involves challenges that encourage teenagers/children/any other user to engage in a series of violent acts."
The board has clarified that the circular will help identify symptoms in children who are playing the game and tips to help teachers stop them from succumbing to it.
It has also advised parents and teachers to monitor a child's online and social media activity, look out for unusually secretive behaviour, and install a good cyber/mobile parenting software.
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This apart, parents have been urged to look out for common signs and symptoms of children affected by the online games like withdrawal from acquaintances, persistent low mood and unhappiness, sudden outbursts of anger, loss of interest.