Momo

As many of you will be aware, there is an internet fad called ‘Momo’. Varying accounts of what happens from country to country are very different, but it appears to be a progressive dare game. Currently the situation in the UK seems to be more about hype and scaremongering than the actual game. Rumours are quickly spreading and many of them are unsubstantiated. There does not appear to be any actual hacking involved. The child must engage in conversation for anything to happen. As the details of the craze are unclear our advice is –  • Firstly speak to your children and reassure them. Let them know that they should not be afraid of the rumours and that they can speak to you. • Go through their personal devices with them and ask them to account for every friend and conversation they have. If they cannot explain a friend or conversation in an app such as Instagram, Snapchat or WhatsApp we would strongly advise that they are removed. • Check games consoles such as xBoxs and Playstations for friend lists as well. • Check these devices every day, as things like this can be very fast-moving. • Make sure they are searching safely online using parental controls such as Google ‘SafeSearch’. • Make sure you are aware of exactly what your child is doing and viewing online – particularly YouTube. A lot of the rumour content is being circulated through YouTube.