The social networking sites are full of recordings of a new bizarre challenge – a game called “Charlie, Charlie”. According to experts of the International Center “La Strada”, this game is devastating for the child’s mind and the parents, guardians and teachers should be more precautious towards this apparently innocent game, IPN reports, quoting a press release of the Center.

The game “Charlie, Charlie” was already played by thousands of children and teens, who posted on the Internet short videos of an alleged invocation of the spirit of a dead Mexican man, with the help of two pencils. According to “La Strada” psychologist Sanda Rosca, the activity itself and the videos can emotionally affect the children. “When seeing the pencils moving, the child of an early age can be impressed by the establishment of a personal relationship with the so-called demons. Afterward, curiosity will be replaced by scare, which will affect the emotional health and can have unexpected negative consequences,” she stated, adding that the teens could have feelings of sadness, frustration and disappointment when they get an unwanted answer from a personage whom they invested with supernatural powers.

The opinion is shared by Angela Palancean, coordinator of the platform www.siguronline.md, which promotes the safe use of the Internet by children. “On the platform SigurOnline, we have been often asked about the game called “Charlie, Charlie”, especially how and where videos and postings promoting this game can be reported for being removed. In response, we urge the Internet users to report the contents with text, photo or video that promote this game as harmful. The warning is to be transmitted to Google, YouTube, Facebook or the administrators of the online platform that hosts materials promoting the game,” said Angela Palancean.

Initially, the game became popular on the Interest among teenagers in the Dominican Republic, where the local authorities were warned about its damaging character. The Ministry of Education of the Dominican Republic banned this game in schools as harmful to the physical and mental health of students.