TEXT THREAT
Momo WhatsApp ‘suicide challenge’ sparks warning to parents after mysterious death of 12-year-old girl
A disturbing new game spread on WhatsApp has been blamed for the death of a girl in Argentina
PARENTS are being warned about a disturbing new WhatsApp “suicide” game that is feared to have claimed the life of a 12-year-old girl.
Police forces in several countries have expressed concern about Momo, which is similar to the Blue Whale 'challenge' that led to reports of 130 suicides in Russia.
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Momo is the name of a social media account with a presence on networks such as WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube.
, the game started in a Facebook where members were 'challenged' to communicate with an unknown number.
Several users are reported as saying that Momo responded with violent images and players are threatened if they refuse to follow the game's "orders".
The avatar used by Momo is an image of woman with grotesque features and bulging eyes, created by special effects outfit Link Factory for an art exhibition in Tokyo.
They are not associated with the game in any way.
FOR KIDS: How to say no
It can sometimes be hard to stand up to your friends, so Childline offers the following tips on how to say no:
1) Say it with confidence:
Be assertive. It’s your choice and you don’t have to do something which makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
2) Try not to judge them:
By respecting their choices, they should respect yours.
3) Spend time with friends who can say ‘no’:
It takes confidence and courage to say no to your friends. Spend time with other friends who also aren’t taking part.
4) Suggest something else to do:
If you don’t feel comfortable doing what your friends are doing, suggest something else to do.
Any child worried about peer pressure or online worries can contact on 0800 1111.
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Police in Argentina are linking the game to the death of a 12-year-old who took her own life and have issued warning to parents
They are hunting for the “adolescent with whom she exchanged those messages”.
Momo has now been reported in Mexico, Argentina, United States, France and Germany, .
Speaking to the BBC News's Portuguese language site, Rodrigo Nejm of Brazil's NGO Safernet said it's unclear how widespread the game is but claimed it was most likely a form of 'bait' used by criminals to steal data and extort people on the internet.
According to YouTuber ReignBot, who creates “videos exploring creepy internet weirdness”, it is hard to tie Momo down to one WhatsApp user.
It is known to be connected to at least three phone numbers, from Japan, Colombia and Mexico.
ReignBot said anyone trying to contact the numbers is unlikely to get a response.
Those who have manage to make contact are most likely “to be met with insults, implications that this person knows your personal information and most notably disturbing images I would not be able to show you here”.
SAFETY NET: How to keep your child safe online
The Internet can be an amazing tool to help children learn and play.
But with the digital world changing all the time, how can you make sure your child is safe?
Set up parental controls
- Parental controls can be used to block upsetting or harmful content, control in-app purchases or manage how long your child spends online
- The filters can help control what time of day your child can go online, and to stop them from downloading apps they are too young for
Talk to your children
- Have regular conversations about what your child is doing online
- Explore sites and apps together
- Talk about what personal information they should share online
- Create a family agreement about what behaviour is appropriate when they are online
Do your research
- Check through websites your child will use through the
- Change privacy settings and turning off location sharing
If you need help now, you can phone experts on the free NSPCC & O2 helpline 0808 800 5002
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The National Police of Spain have warned "it is better to ignore absurd challenges that come in the fashion in WhatsApp".
"Do not go into 'Momo'! If you record the number on your calendar, you will see a strange woman's face, it's the latest WhatsApp viral to come in vogue among teenagers,” the force said on Twiter.
The Blue Whale suicide game is believed to be a social media group which is encouraging people to kill themselves.
It's thought a group administrator assigns daily tasks to members, which they have to complete over 50 days.
The horrific tasks include self-harming, watching horror movies and waking up at unusual hours, but these gradually get more extreme.
On the 50th day, the controlling manipulators behind the game reportedly instruct the youngsters to commit suicide.
The Sun Online has contacted WhatsApp for comment.