Hanging on the 19th floor, a nine-year-old girl became a victim of the game: a list of dangerous entertainment was published

On a holiday on May 9, a nine-year-old girl hung in her arms on the balcony of the 19th floor in a residential area of ​​​​Moscow. A neighbor saw a terrible picture – the child was hanging at a great height from the outside of the balcony with his back to the street. The woman immediately called the police. It turned out that in the absence of adults, the third-grader, together with a weather friend, played “wishes”. And the girl had such a task… What other games and surprises can you expect from children left to themselves?

It is noteworthy that Masha (name has been changed), who found herself on the other side of the balcony, is from a complete family, her parents and grandmother take care of her a lot. “Prosperous family, the girl is always well dressed,” they characterize at school. However, the child nearly died. The girl miraculously managed to pull herself up and climb back onto the balcony before the police arrived. A pre-investigation check on this story is now being carried out, the guardianship authorities will also check the family.

– The game of desire is now not the same as the good old “weak”, – social psychologist Valery Raushinsky believes. – The modern look of the game came from trendy teen dramas, television series from Japan and South Korea, everything is tough there. There are ready-made lists of tasks in different variations: a group network game or just for several people, for four, for two, a boy-girl, 18+ options …

There are desires in the lists, as well as innocent ones: “let’s go for a walk together”, “buy me a kinder”, “put money on the phone”.

Or such: “tell me your passwords (on social networks), “put the status “I am selling for 100, I have experience”, “throw off intimate videos”.

Or extreme, as in the case of a balcony. Now it has subsided, but six months ago they actively played “squid” based on the series. There were even worse tasks, because the series is about a game of survival. Climb onto the roof of an abandoned building, for example, depicting an episode “on glass”. Or pull the rope blindly – you can’t see where you’re stepping…

Due to age characteristics, a rare teenager 9-16 years old will refuse to complete the task. Because the affiliative need at this age, that is, the desire to be a cool, significant member of the team, is higher than personal needs. And even stronger sense of self-preservation, unfortunately.

Technically, wishes are played by drawing pieces of paper, or by playing cards, or by spinning a bottle – nothing new. The age of technology has presented, however, another option – “download assignments.” In any case, the tasks are ready and their implementation is immutable.

– What happened, then you have to do it – if you sat down to play, you can’t refuse, – says 14-year-old Pavel. – There are also desires “on a bet”, when the loser gets tasks, and they are always nasty, or cool, or extreme. Rough, in general. But for a bet, they often play flat or hustle (party options, home or crowded – ed.) And just like that, or together, or with friends, or in chats they play.

Not quite innocent, according to Raushinsky, can be such teenage games as “I never …”, “Truth or Dare” or a game with a telling name “Unforgettable Shooter”. Truth or Dare, for example, is often played “on the hook” – the loser becomes the hooker and must pass a certain number of stations.

“I never …” and other, in fact, psychological games, where a lot depends on who is leading. It is dangerous if a high school student runs the game, and younger students play. But physical workouts can be no better. For example, “call to jump” is cutting under the legs of the one who jumped. This fun causes laughter of others and can end with a fracture of the spine, ribs, and a traumatic brain injury. Or a game of weighted twister, or a “wish” quest.

It is clear that games with the transfer of money, intimate photo-videos, and mandatory tasks are actively used by scammers and other criminals. In middle and high school and local haters can think of blackmail because of some personal information made public out of naivety. Therefore, psychologists advise, parents and schools should remember that evil is not only vapes and others like them. More often to remind schoolchildren what network hygiene is. Do not send intimate photos to anyone, do not share personal data, do not share your and parental passwords – one of the main postulates. And that in general blackmail, manipulation, dangerous or offensive tasks cannot be elements of the game.

Published in the newspaper “Moskovsky Komsomolets” No. 29026 dated May 11, 2023

Newspaper headline:
blinded by desires