A warning message on ‘blue whale’ via Xmas crib

Art teacher Isidor Fernando of St Lasalle Higher Secondary School at Thoothukudi has been making such thematic cribs for 16 straight years. The displays are mostly based on the events that had influenced a large number of people in that particular year. The Blue Whale challenge and the negative consequences of mobile technology, join the long list of themes selected by him earlier, like Mangalyan, Chennai floods and demonetisation in the past years.

Isidor has depicted different images of youth addicted to various social media, so much so that they forget to read books and interact with family members. The fight between good and evil forces was also incorporated in the gadgets replicas displayed in the crib. “I am seeing many students spending hours on their mobile phone. What is more troubling is peoples’ insensitivity during crisis. They start filming it on their phones rather than rendering help. The youth have largely forgotten their duties and are spending most of their time in unwanted issues,” Isidor told DTNext.

“The large number of student suicides hit by the Blue Whale game saddened me.

Like tobacco and alcohol, mobile phone and social media too are addictive in nature and the children should be careful in using the technology,” warned the teacher.

Teachers and students, who visit his house, were impressed to see the crib which spreads the much needed awareness about the use of mobile technology.