There is little doubt that Squid Game has been a huge hit for Netflix. However, a council in the south of England isn't exactly impressed with the series. The Central Bedfordshire council is urging parents to avoid showing the South Korean series to children in fear that the kids will imitate the violent games.
The premise of Squid Game is simple in its core. 456 cash-strapped individuals are invited to participate in a game where they could win 45.6 billion Korean won. To win the prize, they would have to beat each other in games that they had played as children. However, there are deadly twists in every game, and losers are immediately killed.
It's not exactly a wholesome show but netizens are loving it and there have been viral challenges on TikTok and social media platforms. That's where children are reportedly finding them and are now copying the violent versions of games like Red Light Green Light.
In the case of Red Light Green Light, which is the first game played on Squid Game, children are reportedly "punishing" losers as a substitute to the death depicted in the series. These playground antics are now causing great concern among parents.
"There have been some concerning reports recently about children and young people ‘playing' Squid Game whilst at school," an email from the Central Bedfordshire council reads. "Squid Game is also being viewed via other platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, and given the popularity of the games in the show, developers have made various mini-games based on Squid Game on Roblox and other gaming platforms."
The email also had a message for parents. "We strongly advise that children should not watch Squid Game. The show is quite graphic with a lot of violent content," it read.
The possibility of kids copying the games isn't the only thing to worry about. Squid Game is rated 18+ on Netflix and should not be accessible to children. In addition to death and violence, the series also features a sex scene and various depictions of sexual violence and suicide. With that in mind, parents should take special care so their children do not get to watch the show.
Squid Game is currently streaming on Netflix and is set to become the streaming giant's most successful show. It has not yet been confirmed for a second season. Stay tuned for more updates on this story.
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