PredEx

🚨🚨⚠️ IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDING ALERT FOR ALL PARENTS AND CARERS ⚠️🚨🚨

​We are seeing reports that the "Momo Challenge" has resurfaced across social media and messaging platforms. While this phenomenon is widely recognized by experts as a viral hoax, the disturbing imagery and the "threats" associated with it can cause genuine distress, anxiety, and fear in children.

​🛑 What is the "Momo Challenge"?

​The challenge features a distorted, frightening image of a creature (originally a sculpture called "Mother Bird" by a Japanese artist, unrelated to any "challenge"). It reportedly "appears" in videos or messages, instructing children to perform dangerous tasks or self-harm, threatening them if they don’t comply or if they tell an adult.

​🚩 Why is this a Safeguarding Concern?

​The primary risk isn't a "cursed" video-it's the psychological impact.

⚠️ ​Anxiety & Trauma: The image itself is designed to be nightmare-inducing for young children.

⚠️ ​The "Fear Factor": Children may feel genuinely threatened by the digital "boogeyman" and hide their distress from parents.

⚠️ ​Sensationalism: Ironically, the biggest risk often comes from the panic caused by viral warnings. When we share unverified "warnings," we inadvertently expose more children to the image and increase their anxiety.

​📱 Where is it appearing?

​While the platform owners work hard to remove this content, it has historically been linked to:

🚨 WhatsApp: Via messages from unknown numbers.

🚨 YouTube & YouTube Kids: Hidden in seemingly innocent clips (like Peppa Pig or gaming walkthroughs).

🚨 TikTok & Roblox: Through user-generated "re-uploads."

⚠️ Watch/Learn what to look for:

Take a look at this video, 'momo challenge' https://share.google/ID5fFYVwwUwikXYBn

Momo challenge: The anatomy of a hoax - BBC News https://share.google/sMEqHPYYX8sFY00Xn

⚠️ Actual Deaths reported:

Parliamentary question | The 'Momo' su***de game has killed again | E-004600/2018 | European Parliament https://share.google/fi2OmMD8d4HmZ08nf

https://www.facebook.com/share/17zZRYN1Po/

​🛑 What happened last time?

​When this surfaced previously, schools and police worldwide issued warnings. While there were many sensationalized media reports of harm, major charities like the NSPCC and the Samaritans confirmed there was no evidence of the "challenge" actually causing deaths. However, the fear and panic it caused led to many children requiring mental health support for anxiety.

​✅ How to Handle Concerns

​If you are worried, or if your child mentions it:

💥 ​Don’t Panic: Your calm reaction is their biggest safety net.

💥 ​Open the Dialogue: Ask your child, "Have you seen anything online lately that made you feel upset or worried?" rather than naming "Momo" specifically, which might spark curiosity.

💥 ​Check Settings: Ensure parental controls are active and "Restricted Mode" is on for YouTube.

💥 ​REPORT, Don’t Share: If you find a video containing this content, do not share it on your timeline to warn others-this only helps it spread. Report it directly to the platform (YouTube, FB, or TikTok) so they can delete it.

​📢 Our Message to Parents:

​Please monitor your children’s online activity closely. Talk to them about "digital resilience"- remind them that nothing they see on a screen can hurt them in real life and that they can always come to you if they are scared.

​Let’s stop the panic and start the conversation.

​

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