Momo challenge is ‘elaborate hoax’ that has sparked mass panic, experts say

The Momo challenge is an elaborate ‘hoax’ that has sparked mass panic across the world, experts and charities have warned.

The challenge features a haunting character with bulging eyes who asks children to contact ‘her’ and carry out horrific ‘orders’.

The final instruction is allegedly suicide – with youngsters said to be threatened with death if they refuse to complete the tasks.

The "dangerous" challenge, which is played over WhatsApp, has been linked to the suicide of a 12-year-old girl in Argentina.

And in the UK, it is said to have made its way into popular children’s YouTube videos like Peppa Pig , leaving youngsters terrified.

But now, it has been claimed that the challenge is actually a "moral panic", say the UK Safer Internet Centre.

The Samaritans and the NSPCC have also dismissed reports about Momo, while warning of the risks of the hysteria surrounding it.

The organisations have pointed out that there is no evidence the challenge has directly brought harm to children, the Guardian reports.

But a Samaritans spokesperson warned: "These stories being highly publicised and starting a panic means vulnerable people get to know about it and that creates a risk."

The spokesperson added that the charity is currently not aware of any verified evidence linking the challenge to any suicides.

“What’s more important is parents and people who work with children concentrate on broad online safety guidelines," they said.

The Momo challenge has been publicised online by concerned parents, who have described their own kids’ ‘encounters’ with the character.

Schools and the police have also issued statements on the challenge.

In a recent letter to parents, St Bedes RC Primary School in Carlisle, Cumbria, warned that it poses a "serious risk" to children’s safety.

The school said: "Light-hearted and fun at the outset, this game experience quickly darkens, absorbing players who are encouraged to perform acts of violence and self-harm through a series of progressively risky challenges."

It added: "The challenges issued in this game present a serious risk to the safety, welfare and well-being of children and young people in our schools here in the UK, as does the distressing content when a player refuses to carry on.

"With worrying similarities to the ‘Blue Whale challenge’, it has also been linked to at least five cases of childhood suicide."

Meanwhile, Haslingden Primary School in Rossendale, near Blackburn, Lancashire, posted a warning to parents on its Facebook page.


It said: "We have become increasingly aware of highly inappropriate videos circulating online and are being viewed by children across the school.

"These video clips are appearing on many social media sites and YouTube (including Kids YouTube).

"One of the videos starts innocently, like the start of a Peppa Pig episode for example, but quickly turn into an altered version with violence and offensive language.

"Another video clip is going by the name of ‘MoMo’ which shows a warped white mask which is promoting children to do dangerous tasks without telling their parents."

It added: "Examples we have noticed in school include asking the children to turn the gas on or to find and take tablets."

And parents themselves have described their kids’ alleged experiences of Momo while watching seemingly innocent YouTube videos.

One shocked mum told Mirror Online her six-year-old daughter was watching a Peppa Pig video when the character suddenly popped up.

"My daughter said she was watching a Peppa Pig video and she came on asking if they can be friends," Brittany Roussell, 27, said.

"My daughter turned it off because when [Momo] shows her whole body she is naked and her breasts show.

"She said another girl was talking to her. This was on Kids YouTube because they weren’t allowed to watch regular YouTube.

"I’m sick to my stomach."

However, YouTube said it had not received any evidence of the challenge on its site.

A YouTube spokeswoman said: "Contrary to press reports, we have not received any evidence of videos showing or promoting the Momo challenge on YouTube.

"Content of this kind would be in violation of our policies and removed immediately."

No links or videos that violate the online giant’s guidelines or promote the Momo challenge have been flagged with YouTube.

While claims about the challenge have been spread due to concerns of online child safety, experts say they are concerned about their impact.

Some fear pictures of the Momo character, and stories about what ‘she’ has ordered children to do, have exacerbated the situation.

“Even though it’s done with best intentions, publicising this issue has only piqued curiosity among young people,” Kat Tremlett, harmful content manager at the UK Safer Internet Centre, told The Guardian.

She added of the challenge, which has been circulating online since last year: “It’s a myth that is perpetuated into being some kind of reality."

Ms Tremlett’s comments came after the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) issued a statement about the challenge.

Detective Sergeant Elaine McCormill from PSNI’s Public Protection Branch, said: "Whilst no official reports have been made to police, we are aware of the so-called Momo challenge and are already liaising with other UK police services to try to identify the extent of the problem and to look for opportunities to deal with this issue.

"This extremely disturbing challenge conceals itself within other harmless looking games or videos played by children and when downloaded, it asks the user to communicate with ‘Momo’ via popular messaging applications such as WhatsApp.

"It is at this point that children are threatened that they will be cursed or their family will be hurt if they do not self-harm.

"I am disgusted that a so-called game is targeting our young children and I would encourage parents to know what your children are looking at and who they are talking to."

  • Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at [email protected]

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