The MoMo Challenge: Real threat or cheap hoax?

An internet persona known as “Momo” has taken the internet and parents by storm. As the mysterious character has allegedly been appearing in episodes of children shows uploaded on Youtube such as Peppa Pig and has been ordering children to do very disturbing things such as self-harm and in some cases even suicide.

The Momo character is described to be a pale-skinned lady with grotesque features and bulging eyes and has been rumoured to appear randomly in the middles of children’s video and telling children to be “brave for Momo” whilst encouraging them to harm themselves and others.

Has anyone actually died from the Momo challenge?

A number of deaths around the world have been suspected to be linked to the MoMo challenge.

One of them being a 12 year old girl in Argentina who committed suicide in the district of Escobar. The young girl committed suicide by hanging herself in her family’s back garden, it was later discovered that the girl had filmed herself committing suicide on her phone. The Buenos Aires Times, reported that authorities believed that the young girl was pressured into doing it over social media and are investigating the 18-year-old girl who she had contact with online.

A police statement read: “Phone has been hacked to find footage and WhatsApp chats, and now the alleged adolescent with whom she exchanged those messages is being sought.”  Police stated that they believe “she intended to upload the video (her suicide) to social media as part of a challenge crediting the Momo game”.

The Momo challenge is also thought to be responsible for the suicide of up to 130 children in Russia.

The UK safer internet centre told the Guardian: “It’s fake new”.

The Image of MoMo had actually been discovered to be a sculpture created by Japanese special effects company, Link media and first gained attention in 2016.

So, what should parents do?

UK authorities are advising parents to not share the MoMo challenge amongst their communities and rather than focusing on this specific challenge, use this as an opportunity to educate your children about internet safety as well as opening up the conversation of what your children are accessing online.

Written by: @bigbellynodz