The " Momo Challenge" was a hoax and an internet urban legend that was rumoured to spread through social media and other outlets. It was reported that children and adolescents were being harassed by a user named Momo to perform a series of dangerous tasks including violent attacks, self-harm, harming others, and suicide. Despite claims that the phenomenon had reached worldwide proportions in July 2018, the number of actual complaints was relatively small and no law enforcement agency has confirmed that anyone was harmed as a direct result of it.

Chronology

Internet scare

Discussions among YouTube commentators about a new internet phenomenon promoting self-harm similar to the Blue Whale Challenge surfaced in July 2018, followed in August by news items reporting allegations that cases of self-harm by children in South America and India had been prompted by WhatsApp messages.[1] Reports were based on stories of teenagers being targeted by people presenting themselves as a character named Momo, trying to persuade people to contact them through their cell phone. As with other Internet hoaxes presented as challenges such as "Blue Whale", players are then instructed to perform a succession of tasks; refusal to do so is met with threats and gory pictures.[2][3][4]

In France, a group at the State Department was reviewing the situation daily in late July 2018.[5] Public warnings were issued in August and September by police forces in countries including Argentina,[3][4][6] Germany,[7] Luxembourg,[8] Spain,[9] Canada,[10][11][12] Mexico[3][13] and the United States.[14]

A representation of the Momo character appeared in the popular game Minecraft in the form of in-game skins and an unofficial mod created by the game's users. A police officer in Ohio was concerned to see Momo in his son's copy of the game, worried about the possibility that the mod could lead to participation in the Momo Challenge. After news reports started to outline the link between the Minecraft mod and the Momo Challenge, Microsoft announced it was taking measures to "restrict access to the mod" in question.[15][16]

After weeks of news coverage about unconfirmed cases and warnings issued by the West Bengal police and the Mumbai police, India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in West Bengal indicated on August 29, 2018, that claims reported in the media about the death of two teens being linked to the Momo Challenge were "far fetched and devoid of any evidence". CBI believed most of the large volume of Momo Challenge invitations in India originate locally as pranks sent to spread panic. A CBI spokesperson stated that "so far, the game has not claimed any victim, nor has anyone approached us saying they have played even the first level of it."[1][17][18][19][20] The police could not confirm any role the Momo Challenge might have played in the death of a girl in grade 10 who died by suicide after leaving a note expressing discouragement with lower grades or the suicide of an engineering student in Madras.[21][22][23] The Odisha Police already issued an advisory asking the media to refrain from publishing unconfirmed reports linking teen death to the Momo Challenge.[24]

Pakistan's Minister of Information Technology announced the government intended to draft legislation making it a crime to distribute both the Momo Challenge and the Blue Whale Challenge.[25][26]

WhatsApp encouraged its users to block phone numbers engaging in this practice and to report them to the company.[2][27][28][29][30] By September 2018, most phone numbers supposedly associated with "Momo" were out of service and the news coverage of the phenomenon decreased.[31][32][33][34]

Police authorities in the Philippines issued warnings to parents to be vigilant of their children's online activity after an 11-year-old boy died from apparent suicide by drug overdose on 11 January 2019, linking the incident to the viral challenge, although no official confirmation of direct relation to the incident has been established by the authorities.[35][36] In the aftermath of the reports, Raffy Tulfo and other YouTubers voiced their condolences to the family, encouraging that children be monitored by their parents. They also linked the Blue Whale Challenge to the incident.[37][38]

Worldwide moral panic

In February 2019, the Police Service of Northern Ireland posted a public warning on Facebook, and American media personality Kim Kardashian posted on her Instagram Story pleading for YouTube to remove alleged "Momo" videos.[28][29] At that point, people reported seeing Momo pop up on a variety of platforms, including YouTube and YouTube Kids videos about "Peppa Pig" and Fortnite. The hoax had reached the status of a worldwide moral panic.[28][29][30] More advisories were issued from police forces, schools and organizations dedicated to internet consumer safety,[39][27][40] although some of the warnings were more concerned with identity theft by cybercriminals than the possibility of self-harm.[30][9]

By March, several experts including the Children's Commissioner for England were asking the media and authorities to cease amplifying what increasingly looked like a case of moral panic. Authorities had not confirmed any physical harm resulting from the phenomenon, or even that any sustained exchange of messages took place between the Momo character and anybody.[41] Responding to tabloid coverage which asserted the challenge to be true, the NSPCC, the Samaritans, and the UK Safer Internet Centre declared the Momo Challenge a hoax.[42][43][44] A parent who alerted the press to the Momo Challenge subsequently said her child had not received messages from "Momo", but was merely told about it in a school playground conversation.[45]

Analysis

Web security experts and folklorists studying urban legends have stated that the phenomenon is likely a case of moral panic: a sensationalized hoax fuelled by unverified media reports.[46][47][48][49][50][51] Benjamin Radford stated that "the Blue Whale Game and the Momo Challenge have all the hallmarks of a classic moral panic",[52] "fuelled by parents' fears in wanting to know what their kids are up to. There's an inherent fear in what young people are doing with technology."[28][53]

The founder of fact-checking site Snopes, David Mikkelson, doubts anybody actually came to any harm and said the whole thing "may primarily be a product of bullies and pranksters latching onto a handy mechanism to goad and torment vulnerable youngsters rather than an intrinsic part of a particular social media challenge."[45]

In response to the reports in early 2019, YouTube has said that it has "not received any links to videos showing or promoting the Momo challenge on YouTube" but permits news stories and videos intended to raise awareness of and educate against the alleged phenomenon.[30] The website has demonetized all videos mentioning Momo, including those of news organizations, saying such content violates its advertiser-friendly content guidelines. It has also placed advisory warnings on some Momo videos alerting viewers of "inappropriate or offensive" content.[54]

Picture

Early news reports stating the image of Momo was of a sculpture by Japanese artist Midori Hayashi turned out to be incorrect. Hayashi indicated that it was not her piece, and Internet users identified Link Factory, a Japanese special effects company, as the correct author of the sculpture.[13]

The sculpture has bulging eyes and a beak-like mouth. It also had human-like breasts. Pictures of the sculpture were first posted online in 2016, when it was publicly exhibited.[3][13] The firm denies any involvement with the hoax. Japanese artist Keisuke Aiso confirmed in March 2019 that the sculpture had been thrown away in 2018, after its materials (natural rubber and plant oils) had decomposed.[55][50]

On March 9, 2019, Saturday Night Live parodied the meme with a video featuring Kate McKinnon as a terrifying chicken-suited fast food mascot named "Bok Bok," whom the narrator says "does bear a slight resemblance to the internet urban legend Momo." The narrator says, "We promise, Bok Bok is not Momo in a chicken suit," despite also being "a human-bird hybrid that loves the company of children." At the end, the narrator admits, "Yeah, that's probably Momo."[56]

The plot of the 2022 teen horror movie Grimcutty is a direct reference to the Momo Challenge.[57][58][59]

In July 2019, Orion Pictures said it was developing a film adaptation, with producers Roy Lee (with his production company Vertigo Entertainment) and Taka Ichise.[60]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "CID: Momo Challenge invites locally generated". The India Times. August 29, 2018. Archived from the original on August 30, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Rogers, James (August 2, 2018). "Sinister 'Momo suicide challenge' sparks fear as it spreads on WhatsApp". Fox News. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Noble, Freya (August 2, 2018). "What is Momo? Terrifying 'challenge' linked to 12-year-old's suicide". 9 News. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Police suspect 12-year-old girl's suicide linked to WhatsApp terror game Momo". Buenos Aires Times. July 25, 2018. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  5. ↑ de Fournas, Marie (August 20, 2018). "Quels sont les véritables risques qui entourent le "Momo Challenge"?". 20 Minutes (in French). Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  6. ↑ Rohlefer, Franz (August 18, 2018). ""Momo"-Challenge bei WhatsApp: Polizei warnt vor Selbstmord-Spiel". Merkur (in German). Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Le "Momo Challenge" est arrivé au Luxembourg". Le Quotidien (in French). August 18, 2018. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  8. 1 2 "O que é a 'Momo do WhatsApp' e quais são os riscos que ela representa?". BBC News (Portuguese edition) (in Portuguese). July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Le "Momo challenge" cible des jeunes à Longueuil". La Presse / Presse canadienne (in French). August 18, 2018. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  10. ↑ Pion, Isabelle (August 20, 2018). "Momo Challenge atteint l'Estrie". La tribune (in French). Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Gatineau police, experts warn about 'Momo Challenge'". CBC News. August 20, 2018. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  12. 1 2 3 Dube Dwilson, Stephanie (August 6, 2018). "Momo Challenge: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy. Archived from the original on August 20, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  13. ↑ Nguyen, Em (August 6, 2018). "Warning to local parents about "Momo Suicide Challenge"". Fox News Illinois. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  14. ↑ Webb, Sam (August 17, 2018). "Sick WhatsApp 'Momo suicide game' spreads throughout the internet". Fox News. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  15. ↑ Rogers, James (July 18, 2018). "Microsoft clamps down on sick 'Momo suicide game' in 'Minecraft'". Fox News. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  16. ↑ Ghosh, Dwaypayan (August 23, 2018). "Cop alert against Momo Challenge". The Times of India. Archived from the original on August 23, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Jalpaiguri college girl invited to play virtual suicide game Momo Challenge, files police complaint". Hindustan Times. August 22, 2018. Archived from the original on August 23, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  18. ↑ "West Bengal Girl Gets Call For New Suicide Game "Momo Challenge"". Press Trust of India. August 22, 2018. Archived from the original on August 23, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Say No No to MoMo: Mumbai Police issues warning against deadly Momo Challenge". The Indian Express. August 19, 2018. Archived from the original on August 23, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Momo challenge claims first life in India, Class 10 student commits suicide in Ajmer". Mirror Now News. August 21, 2018. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Engineering student commits suicide, was playing 'Momo Challenge'". The Statesman. September 1, 2018. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  22. ↑ Patnaik, Devbrat (September 5, 2018). "Momo Challenge: Family Blames Momo After Youth Commits Suicide". OdishaTV. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Odisha Police issues advisory on deadly 'Momo Challenge' game". The Statesman. September 5, 2018. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Pakistan says no space for Blue Whale, Momo challenge". Pakistan Today. September 2, 2018. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Blue Whale and Momo challenge banned in Pakistan". The Tribune. September 2, 2018. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  26. 1 2 Dunning, Daniel (February 22, 2019). "York school warning over internet Momo character". Minster FM. Archived from the original on February 27, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  27. 1 2 3 4 Dickson, Ej (February 26, 2019). "What Is the Momo Challenge?". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  28. 1 2 3 Lewis, Sophie (February 28, 2019). "Kim Kardashian warns parents of "Momo challenge," but YouTube says it sees no evidence". CBS News. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  29. 1 2 3 4 O'Malley, Katie (February 27, 2019). "Momo 'challenge' appearing in Peppa Pig YouTube videos, parents are warned". The Independent. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  30. ↑ Magid, Larry (September 21, 2018). "Dire warnings about children dying because of apps and games are a form of 'juvenoia'". Parenting for a Digital Future. Archived from the original on October 8, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Achtung HOAX! Gruselige Nachrichten von Momo". Austrian Ser Internet Center (in German). July 26, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  32. ↑ Audureau, William (September 18, 2018). "" Momo Challenge " sur WhatsApp : itinéraire d'une psychose collective". Le Monde (in French). Archived from the original on October 8, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  33. ↑ Chiu, Allyson (September 5, 2018). "The 'Momo Challenge': A sinister threat to young people or an urban myth?". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 6, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  34. ↑ Batallones, Jeck; Santos, Raffy (February 27, 2019). "Online challenge, tinitingnan sa kaso ng batang namatay sa overdose" (in Filipino). ABS-CBN News. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  35. ↑ "Filipino mom flags daughter's 'disturbing' act amid Youtube addiction". ABS-CBN News. February 27, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  36. ↑ PROTECT OUR CHILDREN! THE BLUE WHALE AND THE MOMO CHALLENGE EXPOSED!. Nico David. February 27, 2019.
  37. ↑ Wag mong gagawin ang BLUE WHALE at MOMO CHALLENGE. Claro the Third. February 28, 2019.
  38. ↑ Waterson, Jim (March 1, 2019). "Private firm defends school factsheet on Momo hoax". The Guardian. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  39. ↑ This Morning (February 28, 2019), The Momo Challenge That's Terrifying Parents, retrieved March 1, 2019
  40. ↑ Waterson, Jim (March 1, 2018). "Momo hoax: schools, police and media told to stop promoting viral challenge". The Guardian. Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  41. ↑ "NSPCC says no need to be concerned about Momo". BBC. March 1, 2019. Archived from the original on March 2, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  42. ↑ Waterson, Jim (February 28, 2019). "Viral 'Momo challenge' is a malicious hoax, say charities". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 2, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  43. ↑ "Momo challenge: what is it, why is it dangerous and what is the advice for parents?". The Week UK. September 4, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  44. 1 2 Mikkleson, David (February 26, 2019). "How Much of a Threat Is the Purported 'Momo Challenge' Suicide Game?". Snopes. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  45. ↑ Lorenz, Taylor (February 28, 2019). "Momo Is Not Trying to Kill Children". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on March 1, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  46. ↑ "Satanic Panic 2.0: The Momo Challenge hoax [TW: Self-harm/suicide]". Boing Boing. March 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  47. ↑ Inwood, Olivia; Zappavigna, Michele (February 10, 2021). "Ambient affiliation, misinformation and moral panic: Negotiating social bonds in a YouTube internet hoax". Discourse & Communication. 15 (3): 281–307. doi:10.1177/1750481321989838. ISSN 1750-4813. S2CID 233907285.
  48. ↑ BBC Newsnight (February 28, 2019), Momo Challenge: The viral hoax, retrieved March 1, 2019
  49. 1 2 Dickson, EJ (March 4, 2019). "'Momo Challenge' Sculpture Has Been Destroyed". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 5, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  50. ↑ Dreyfuss, Emily (February 28, 2019). "How not to fall for viral scares". Wired. Archived from the original on March 13, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  51. ↑ Radford, Benjamin (February 27, 2019). "The 'Momo Challenge' and the 'Blue Whale Game': Online Suicide Game Conspiracies". Skeptical Inquirer. Archived from the original on February 28, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  52. ↑ Lloyd, Brian (January 22, 2019). "The 'Momo' Challenge is a perfect example of moral panic in the age of social media". Entertainment.ie. Archived from the original on February 24, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  53. ↑ Alexander, Julia (March 1, 2019). "YouTube is demonetizing all videos about Momo". The Verge. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  54. ↑ "'Momo' sculptor has thrown away creation, feels 'responsible' for fake challenge". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  55. ↑ "'SNL' parodies Momo with terrifying Bok Bok fast food chicken mascot". AltPress. March 10, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  56. ↑ Thibodeau, Jennifer (November 2022). "Wildly different Huluween offerings: Grimcutty and Matriarch". Fansided. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  57. ↑ Weston, Christopher (October 2022). "Is Grimcutty based on Momo Challenge? Inspiration explained". HITC. Archived from the original on October 11, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  58. ↑ Shuman, Sean (October 23, 2022). "Hulu's Grimcutty and Internet Horror: What Makes it Stand Out?". Movieweb. Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  59. ↑ Boucher, Geoff (July 10, 2019). "Remember Momo? Orion Pictures Adapting Viral Hoax As A Horror Film". Deadline. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.