Momo Challenge sparks warning from online watchdog, but how real is it?
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Australia’s internet safety watchdog has warned parents to limit their child’s exposure to “harmful” online content amid a rash of viral scare stories about the internet phenomenon Momo.
Key points:
- The Momo Challenge is a purported cyberbullying trend, where children receive anonymous threatening messages
- The Office of the eSafety Commissioner said it had received “several enquiries” about the trend — but had not seen any content actually containing the challenge
- Recent claims of the challenge occurring have proven to be little more than rumour
The Momo Challenge is a purported cyberbullying trend prevalent on platforms like WhatsApp, through which children receive anonymous threatening messages tied to pictures of Momo, a grinning cartoonish figure developed by a Japanese special effects company.
But there is very little evidence to suggest the phenomenon actually exists, with mental health groups in the United Kingdom labelling it “fake news” and “moral panic” spread by adults.
The Office of the eSafety Commissioner said it had received “several enquiries” about the challenge, but confirmed it was yet to see “any actual content containing the ‘Momo’ character or challenge in these enquiries”.
“It is very concerning when young people have been exposed to any content that scares them or plays on their emotions, like those reported via the Momo Challenge,” the Office of the eSafety Commissioner said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, the Momo Challenge is not the first, nor will it be the last, harmful online ‘challenge’ or phenomenon to target our children.
“As young people often do not have the maturity or judgement to cope with confronting content online, it’s important to guide and instil critical reasoning skills, so they are aware that not everything they see or receive online is real.”
It said parents should co-view and co-play online with their children, and to let them know that they would be supported if they were upset or uncomfortable with anything they saw on the internet.
An internet phenomenon built on rumour
The Momo Challenge is far from new — in fact, Australian interest initially spiked in mid-2018, when it first hit the headlines.
Police in Northern Ireland this week suggested the challenge could be part of a wider phishing scam “by hackers who are looking for personal info”, and there is little to suggest the viral trend is anything more than unsubstantiated rumours fuelled by subsequent media coverage.
Take, for instance, reports this week that the Momo character was splicing itself into YouTube videos dedicated to Fortnite and the animated children’s series Peppa Pig.
The claim, which originated on Facebook, was quickly picked up by social media users — and even the likes of Kim Kardashian, who warned parents of the threat on Instagram.
Northcott School in the United Kingdom picked up on the rumour too, tweeting: “We are aware that some nasty challenges (Momo challenge) are hacking into children’s programmes … YouTube, Fortnight (sic), Peppa pig to avoid detection by adults.”
Sounds pretty convincing, right?
Except, it never actually happened. YouTube was forced to respond to the controversy, noting it had been paying “close attention to these reports”.
“After much review, we’ve seen no recent evidence of videos promoting the Momo Challenge on YouTube,” it said in a statement.
“Despite press reports of this challenge surfacing, we haven’t had any recent links flagged or shared with us from YouTube.”
With more enquiries about the challenge than actual reported cases, internet users are left to exercise their own judgement about what they will choose to believe.
But with the online trend unlikely to go away anytime soon, the Office of the eSafety Commissioner believes parents should be keeping tabs on their child’s viewing habits.
“Active parental engagement and oversight of a child’s online activities is critical from the start, to help ensure they are prepared for what they may encounter,” it said.
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