Momo challenge and internet safety
You may have seen information in the media recently about the “MOMO Challenge”, an Internet trend in which a frightening image of a woman with a distorted face and bulging eyes is shared via social media apps, such as WhatsApp.
This trend generally targets children and asks them to carry out “challenges”. Children have reported being threatened if they do not comply, which can obviously cause great distress.
Our advice to parents who are worried about this current trend, or who have questions, is to speak to their children and engage with how they are using the internet.
National Online Safety have produced a guide with information about this particular trend, and good advice on general online safety. https://nationalonlinesafety.com/resources/platform-guides/momo-online-safety-guide-for-parents/
Police have also advised parents to:
- Ensure they know what their children can access online
- Ensure children understand the importance of not giving personal information to anyone they do not know
- Tell their children no-one has the right to make them do anything they do not want to do
- Use parental controls to keep children safe
The NSPCC maintains the Net Aware website, which has lots of useful information about the use of social media by children: https://www.net-aware.org.uk/
This includes a dedicated page of information and advice about WhatsApp: https://www.net-aware.org.uk/networks/whatsapp/
