GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A new challenge is supposedly circulating on social media, and this time it’s targeting young ones.
Several outlets have reported the “Momo Challenge”, some described as a suicide “game.”
The challenge has allegedly made appearances on apps like WhatsApp, YouTube and other social media platforms.
But YouTube posted on Twitter earlier in the week saying it hasn’t seen recent videos promoting the Momo Challenge on its platforms.
YouTube goes on to say challenges like those are against the company’s policies.
Now the supposed challenge is hitting a little closer to home.
Green Bay Area Public Schools sent out the following letter to families.
The letter explains what the Momo Challenge is, and what parents can do to prevent their children from being exposed to the video.
Dear GBAPS Families:
We want to share with you some information about an inappropriate social media challenge targeted at youth that has created concern in other areas of the country and world.
What is the Momo Challenge?
Momo is a viral “challenge” aimed at kids that has been around since 2016 but is again supposedly being circulated on WhatsApp, games, YouTube/ YouTube Kids. A pop-up ad appears of a scary looking woman-ish figure “Momo” (Japanese fictional character) and the ad is supposedly encouraging, even threatening children to engage in perilous acts such as taking pills, stabbing people, lighting fires and even killing themselves.
A good deal of skepticism remains that the existence of the Momo challenge may be far more hype or hoax than reality. People are claiming what Momo is and what Momo does, but not that many people have actually interacted with the account. Finding screenshots of interactions with Momo is nearly impossible. So basically, no one has really seen the actual posts encouraging this behavior, people are only seeing posts warning of the posts. For more information on the Momo Challenge, please see these links from BBC and Snopes.
As a parent, what can I do about it?
Please remember that as a parent/guardian, you have control over your children’s electronic device(s). If your student has a social media account, please consider age appropriateness and exposure from older siblings or friends. Talk with them about the content they access, the importance of not accepting any communications or invitations from people they do not know, and not sharing personal information. For additional information on Momo and internet safety, please view a document from the National Online Safety organization.
