What is Squid Game?
Squid Game is a South Korean television series streaming on Netflix. The plot centres on a group of adult debtors, thieves, and gamblers competing against each other in a series of childhood games for a grand cash prize. However, there is a dark twist to these seemingly innocent games – losing competitors are violently killed off in ways that grow more twisted as the games grow more intense.
Since its release in September 2021, Squid Game has become number one across 90 different countries in Netflix’s ranking of most watched TV shows. It has been number one in the UK for thirteen consecutive days since its release.
Harmful Content in the Show
Currently, Squid Game has a rating of 15+ as the visual content includes high levels of gore, death, violence, and physical assault. It also has graphic depictions of suicide, murder, and sexual assault.
Children and young people are likely to know about the show via word of mouth and because it is so popular on social media. They may be unaware of the extent of gore, death, and violence the show contains. It also focuses on adult themes that are not appropriate for younger sensibilities. For young people who live with mental health issues, they may be triggered by some of the content.
The aesthetic of Squid Game, especially in promotional images and material, appears innocent and childlike. This is to provide a clash with the excessively violent content that is meant to be jarring and unsettling to viewers.
Parents and carers should be aware that video content from this show is found on TikTok, which could also increase their interest in watching the show. Remember: even if you restrict the young person in your care from watching Squid Game, they may be able to access content on other social media platforms.
The Risks of Rough Play
Red Light, Green Light
©Netflix
Honeycomb Game
©Netflix
It’s unlikely that children and young people would have the means to entirely recreate the games featured in the show. A lot of them include specialised weapons, sets, and equipment.
However, there is a concern that a child or young person may unintentionally put themselves in harm’s way by trying to recreate a small portion of the games. Some reports have seen children using physical violence in the playground to ‘punish’ losers as a substitute for the player losing their life. If a child attempts to recreate the Honeycomb Game, there is a risk of burns from caramelised sugar if they attempt to make the honeycomb themselves. Some users have also tried heating sharp objects over flames like characters in the show to make cutting an image out of honeycomb easier.
Practical Tips and Guidance
- Pause - Consider the age and ability of your child alongside the platform they use.
- Think - Consider talking to your child about harmful content online.
- Talk - Engage your child in a natural way and ask questions to establish how much they know about the topic.
- Ensure that the children and young people in your care know who they can talk to if they come across something that upsets or distresses them online
- For information on a range of different video streaming sites, check out the Stream Safe section of our Online Safety Centre
- For more information on handling harmful content, check out our recent article here
- For advice adults can contact the NSPCC helpline
- Children can speak to the Childline Helpline if they have any concerns