Police warn of social media game challenging kids to disappear for 72 hours
A social media safety expert says a new and frightening game for teenagers could be a good opportunity for parents.
It’s called the Game of 72, a challenge to vanish for 72 hours. The greater the hysteria your disappearance causes the bigger you win.
Jesse Miller with Mediated Reality says parents should use stories like this to start a conversation with their children.
“Open up dialogue about where a story originated from,” said Miller. “Ask the questions about whether or not their children have heard about it and whether or not their friends are talking about it on the internet.”
Miller says a there have been a handful of cases in the UK linked to this game, where teens have gone missing only to show up unharmed days later.
Vancouver Constable Brian Montague says this so-called game is not just dangerous, but potentially criminal.
“When you force the police into an investigation you potentially could be charged criminally,” said Montague. “That’s always a possibility. We hope that it wouldn’t get to that.”
Montague is also cautioning any teens considering doing this that if they go missing investigators will pry into every aspect of their personal life, and details could be made very public.
Twitter chatter on #GameOf72
Dangerous #Gameof72 causes two schoolgirls vanish http://t.co/2PiCl7OQEH pic.twitter.com/nHGuzb6YtX
— Closer Mag & Online (@CloserOnline) May 6, 2015
This is BEYOND stupid , inconsiderate , heartless and unbelievably CARELESS. #Gameof72
— JoJo (@JoJoMaggotmummy) May 6, 2015
Parents need to be aware of a new “game” traveling around social media involving teens daring each other to vanish for 72 hours #Gameof72
— Revere Police (@reverepolice) May 1, 2015
Apparently it’s now a thing to go missing for 72 hours for no reason. Wow #France. #wtf #gameof72 #juststopplease #twogirlsonepod
— TwoGirlsOnePod (@TwoGirlsOnePod) April 30, 2015
Facebook #Gameof72 sees #children dare each other 2 vanish for 72 hours without telling anyone http://t.co/W9ynuCsrps pic.twitter.com/81zF3xmmHi
— YouthBlitz (@YouthBlitzUK) April 30, 2015
Police: #gameof72 challenges teens to disappear; spreads panic among parents http://t.co/rDKzASLQA8
— FOX 10 Phoenix (@FOX10Phoenix) May 4, 2015
Police warn parents of #gameof72, in which children dare each other to disappear for 3 days without contact. http://t.co/MmA4M0J8xV
— necn (@NECN) May 2, 2015