STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WJAC) — A viral challenge that is encouraging kids to commit suicide. It includes a catchy song but creepy words. A scary character known as Momo is taking over your kid’s screens.
"The video itself is terrifying,” Beck Psychotherapy owner and therapist Christy Beck said.
The Momo Challenge first came out in September 2018 but it's back again, and at the fingertips of kids.
When you hear the term Momo Challenge, you might think that sounds fun or tempting. There have been reports of it taking over social media, YouTube and even video games. And the horrifying video now has officials putting out a warning to parents.
“The image of the sculpture, that I guess was originally a sculpture, was a terrifying image, so I can see why whoever started that used this image -- because it's really scary," Beck said.
This pop-up is geared toward children -- and can appear on your child's video games, computer screens or social media.
In the so-called Momo Challenge children hear a threatening message.
This character has appeared to be real to children, telling them several things, like they will kill them and not to tell their parents about the video and more.
"Younger kids are more susceptible to that and they're more susceptible to believe things, and so I can see them being really terrified," Beck said.
The video has received millions of views -- and with reports like that, parents are concerned.
Beck, a local therapist, offers some advice.
"Be aware of what’s going on with your kids. I think it's totally OK to check your kids' phones and see what they're looking at,” Beck said. “It’s not an invasion of privacy, but at this age there so much information and stuff out there that we can't control. So, I think we have to be vigilant about -- know what they're into. And just keeping those open lines of communication, letting them know whatever is going on, you want them to talk to you."
Some other tips from officials:
-Be present. Try to be around while your children are online.
-Talk regularly with your child. It can give you an understanding of their online actions and make your children feel more comfortable to discuss issues or concerns they have.
-Tell them it’s not real. Although it may seem obvious, it’s important for you to reiterate to your child.
-Set up parental controls for your devices at home to help restrict the type of content your child can see.
Officials also say be aware of pop-ups like videos, apps and ads that may show up on YouTube. YouTube released a statement on Twitter about the ad on Wednesday, saying: “Contrary to press reports, we’ve not received any recent evidence of videos showing or promoting the Momo challenge on YouTube. Content of this kind would be in violation of our policies and removed immediately."
For more information or help, you can contact your local therapist or the police department.
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