“Momo Challenge” A Hoax Claims Says Charities

Over the past few weeks, there has been a lot of online chatter surrounding the so-called “Momo Challenge”, an alleged self-harm craze which some publications have encouraged children and young people to commit violent acts, self-harm or even commit suicide. 

This has sparked many organisations, such as Schools and Police services, to issue warnings and guidance to parents who are worried about the craze, sparking further hysteria as news organisations across the world ran with the story. Reports of Momo have even claimed that the character has appeared in online videos for Fortnite and Peppa Pig, though no evidence of such videos has been uncovered.

The NSPCC, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has claimed to The Guardian that there is no confirmed evidence that the phenomenon is posing a threat to British Children. Samaritans have also dismissed these claims, alleging that the ensuing media attention and hysteria currently poses more risk to the public. 

Furthermore, YouTube has claimed that there is no evidence of videos promoting the “Momo Challenge” are present on their platform, and the UK Safer Internet Centre has called many of these claims “fake news”.    

A spokesperson for Samaritans has stated that “These stories being highly publicised and starting a panic means vulnerable people get to know about it and that creates a risk.” The same spokesperson claimed that these hysterical media reports are “raising the risk of harm” and that they are “not aware of any verified evidence in this country or beyond linking Momo to suicide”.

The main problems posed by the “Momo Challenge” is that the widespread media reports and the promotion of related articles have instilled fear in both parents and children, all thanks to a sea of unverified claims from news outlets.

In effect, clickbait headlines and scaremongering has resulted in Schools and Police forces issuing warnings, which in turn have created more headlines and fear amongst children and parents. As of now, there is little evidence that the “Momo Challenge” actually exists in the UK.