Modern children feel quite free on social networks, openly communicating with everyone who offers them friendship. Such openness is manipulated by the so-called "death groups" - communities on social networks that actively promote suicidal behavior among children and adolescents. An active and judicious position of parents will help to protect the child from death groups.
"Death groups" are well disguised, and by the content of the social page, you are unlikely to suspect that something is wrong. Often, manipulators hide behind interesting names, focus on the uniqueness of their content, or simply offer children something beneficial in exchange for completing tasks.
The most famous groups of death are "Blue Whale", "Fox", "Run or Die". Be a private guest on your child's page and notice what posts he makes, which groups he enters, which posts of which groups he notes on his page, etc.
It all starts with a harmless message: “Hello! You have such an interesting page, let's be friends! Administrators and curators of death groups can create fake pages of teenagers or popular actors in the children's environment and other famous personalities. Their task: to interest the child, to call for confidential communication, to make friends.
First of all, close the child's page from strangers. Explain that you can only add as friends those whom the child really knows in life (friends at school, sports section, etc.). When talking, do not use prohibitions or blackmail in the spirit of: “I'll take my tablet, delete your page,” etc. you must show the child that it is you who are his main friend, and you trust him, otherwise the child will go for trust in strangers.
Your observation will help keep your child safe from death groups. React to any changes in children's behavior: isolation, a thirst for privacy, frequent spending time at the computer or phone, adult jargon that is not typical for a child (in particular, philosophical reflections on the worthlessness of life or the injustice of the world).
Having achieved friendship and trust from the child, the curators of the “death group” begin to take what is called “weak”: “Are you weak? Can you? Prove to me that you are not small … ". Quite harmless initial tasks like "take a selfie" or "film a story about yourself on video" gradually lead to more meaningful checks: "Do you feel bad about getting a tattoo / making an incision?", "Can you shoot a video from the roof?" and etc.
If you notice strange videos or photographs in a child, as well as scratches or cuts on the wrists and forearms, do not panic or get angry, but also show interest with a smile: “Oh, what have you got? Show me . Act in the same way as manipulators: elicit information with neat leading questions and along the way explain what is good and what is not.
First, praise your child for courage, creativity or independence, and only then develop critical thinking: "Don't you think this new friend of yours is strange?" Ask how the child is doing at school, what has happened.
During the stories, listen to the child, looking into the eyes, without being distracted by your business: cooking, phone, etc. - children are sensitive to any falsehood, and if they catch a fake interest, they will simply dismiss the phrase "everything is fine."
Explain to your child that strangers should not know where he lives or studies, so it is better not to show or voice personal information in a video or photo. Death groups also manipulate childhood fears: fear of rejection, fear of losing their parents. In case of refusal to perform dangerous tasks, the manipulators of death groups blackmail such as: “I know where your mother works, where she goes, etc.”.
Tell your child that he can always trust you with any of his secrets, and any child's act (no matter how bad it may be) will not affect your love and friendship. Support the child with the words: "We can handle it", "We are strong", "We are ready to help." Tell us how you dealt with similar situations as a child, how you overcame your fears.
Any threatening messages must be recorded and sent to the police station, and a copy with a mark of acceptance must be kept with you. You can direct your suspicions about "death groups" to the administration of the social network or Roskomnadzor.
