Re-Framing and Exploring Online Suicidal Games as a Specific Form of Cyberbullying

Bibliographic Data

ID12970393
AuthorsCharlotta Thodelius (Chalmers University of Technology, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume9
Pages231-240
Publication date2021-04-20
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Criminology and Sociology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1929-4409 • E-ISSN: 1929-4409
PublisherLifescience Global (PUBLISHER • CA)
DOI10.6000/1929-4409.2020.09.21
OpenAlexW3092160875
LanguageEN
References cited24

This article discusses online suicide games as a part of cyberbullying with the game called “Blue Whale Challenge” as an empirical case. The three-fold aim is to (i) identify key social mechanisms related to participation and engagement, (ii) discuss the phenomena in a broader sociological and criminological framework, and (iii) compare social mechanisms in BWC with mechanisms in cyberbullying. The analysis was conducted in two steps, firstly a case study based on a combination of media reports and extracts from different social media posts related to BWC was conducted. Secondly, the result from the case study was re-analyzed in relation to key elements identified in cyberbullying, to conclude if and how BWC can be defined as a form of cyberbullying. The results show that BWC can be defined as a specific form of cyberbullying, but victimization is created differently in BWC compared to victimization in cyberbullying

Criminology · Framing (construction · Social media · Sociology · Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression · Computer Science · Engineering · Hate Speech and Cyberbullying Detection · Psychology · Social Psychology · Stalking, Cyberstalking, and Harassment

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