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Momo Challenge sparks fear, reminder for social media supervision

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By Correne Martin

Prairie du Chien Public Schools sent out a parent tech alert Feb. 28, in response to the recent mania called the Momo Challenge, also known as the “suicide killer game,” that is popping up on social media sites accessible by children of any age.  

The Momo Challenge “is primarily communicated through Facebook’s WhatsApp (free messaging application), but can show up in other social media sites hidden within animated videos on YouTube and more,” according to the alert provided by High School Principal Andy Banasik. According to concerned Facebook posts, the imagery and language from a terrifying doll with long hair and bulging eyes are supposedly being placed into cartoons and toy review videos.

“When children participate in this challenge, they communicate with a stranger concealing themselves as “Momo” using a creepy image. Children are then asked to complete various tasks, ultimately ending with Momo telling the participant to take his or her own life and record it for social media,” the parent alert explained. 

“Media and digital devices are an integral part of learning in our world today. The benefits of these devices, if used moderately and appropriately, can be effective,” Banasik said. “However, there are times when technology access can be harmful to our children’s well-being. This is why we are alerting you to this recently resurfaced widespread international issue.”

Prairie du Chien Police Chief Kyle Teynor also addressed the sinister nature of this challenge and said it preys upon that societal need for “instant gratification,” that others could potentially “like” destructive things that participants put out on social media. 

Teynor advises parents that this situation should serve as a reminder to keep close tabs on what their children are watching or doing on the internet. 

Within the school district’s alert, some quick tips for parents were included:

•Use the parental controls on your devices to limit access for your kids.

•Supervise their technology usage.

•Talk to your children about what they’re viewing and tell them to let you know right away if they encounter something scary or inappropriate online.

•Ask your children to talk with you or a trusted adult about these issues; talking to other children can create more undue fear for all involved.

•Teach kids about what is fake versus real.

•Show older kids how to block and report online.

•Support and encourage your kids to resist dares/peer pressure and that they should never do anything dangerous or illegal.

According to a CNN article on the challenge posted Friday, verified accounts of kids coming across these Momo videos or messages are rare. The fact-checking website, Snopes, said the 2018 suicide deaths of two boys in India were linked in news reports of the Momo Challenge. 

In late February, a Sacramento woman claimed her 12-year-old daughter turned on a gas stove after watching videos that contained surprise clips of the Momo figure, which, CNN said, is actually the work of a Japanese special effects company that has nothing to do with the Momo Challenge. CNN shared there have also been reports of children as young as 5 who have, according to their parents, threatened violence on behalf of the Momo character.

For additional information, find this article on our website, pdccourier.com, and Facebook page, where a National Online Safety fact sheet is also available for viewing. 

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