As if parents needed one more thing to worry about when it comes to social media and their teenager!

Parents, if you hear your teens talking about playing 'Game of 72,' be aware that this isn't an app to a game like Candy Crush, Angry Birds, Clash of Clans or Game of War. It's much more serious.

Police have started warning parents about the new game on Facebook called Game of 72, in which teens encourage other teens to disappear for three-days. Game of 72 is spreading through Europe and France and now police are concerned it could catch on here in the United States and in Canada.

Game of 72, which supposedly started in France, awards kids points for disappearing for three days (72 hours), with additional points also being given based on the amount of panic that is created around their disappearance. The teens will send private messages through Facebook or other social media outlets, daring other teens to disappear for 72 hours without contacting anyone.

But is Game of 72 something that teens are actually starting to play, causing concern for parents and authorities, or is it simply an urban legend?

Teens aren't answering that question. Even so, the game is being blamed for teens in Great Britain and France that have gone missing, then three days later, returned home unharmed and refusing to say where they have been. Friends of the missing teens will only say that they suspect Game of 72 is to blame.

Because of the growing number of missing teens in Great Britain and France, police in the United States and Canada have started posting messages to Facebook warning parents to be aware of this new social media game. Police have also started encouraging parents to talk to their teens about the seriousness of Game of 72. Vancouver Sergeant Randy Fincham says,

Police can definitely use their resources in a better way than looking for people who aren’t missing or aren’t at risk. We ask that people rethink their actions before getting involved in anything this silly. This game could take away from our ability to look for people who need to be found. We’d rather focus our attention on the people who really need our help.

Source: Yahoo Parenting

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