The Momo Challenge by Amber Corcoran https://padlet.com/ambercorcoran95/zl6ptfoo7oak Parents have recently been reminded of the importance of tracking their children’s online activity. A stream of harmful videos have been surfacing YouTube Kids, a version of YouTube with parental control features, and a limited selection of content oriented towards children. Each of these videos, disguised as regular episodes of popular children’s shows, contain a surprise character in common. This character is Momo. en-us 2019-03-22 20:38:38 UTC 2026-01-01 23:39:32 UTC hello@padlet.com ambercorcoran95 https://padlet.com/ambercorcoran95/zl6ptfoo7oak/wish/344388856 This Twitter user posted a video of something they came across while searching for something for their child to watch. As you can see, after some time of watching the cartoon, the episode cuts and a creepy image of a woman appears on the screen. In a strange voice, she begins to tell the viewers to harm themselves.
Various episodes from this well-known children's show, Peppa Pig, are posted on YouTube from various users. This means anyone’s video can be submitted into the YouTube Kids section of the website as long as it appears safe. It is highly unlikely that all content is reviewed by YouTube staff before being available to the online public.  
]]> 2019-03-22 21:09:30 UTC https://padlet.com/ambercorcoran95/zl6ptfoo7oak/wish/344388856 ambercorcoran95 https://padlet.com/ambercorcoran95/zl6ptfoo7oak/wish/346687162 The Momo Challenge is based on a Japanese statue character that connects with children online. Momo encourages children to participate in a game involving tasks that encourage them to harm themselves.  Children are told that if they tell their parents, Momo will find them and kill them. So many children have been affected by this that concerned parents everywhere have alerted many news and social media outlets so that other parents can be aware of what is going on. This video is a clip from a West Palm Beach News Station, WPTV, informing parents of the ‘potentially deadly’ challenge. The news report noted that most children that participated in the challenge were not severely harmed.

]]> 2019-03-29 19:28:32 UTC https://padlet.com/ambercorcoran95/zl6ptfoo7oak/wish/346687162 ambercorcoran95 https://padlet.com/ambercorcoran95/zl6ptfoo7oak/wish/346691855 This is a Facebook post that went viral. When you look at the images below, you see children’s character, Peppa Pig, doing violent, disturbing things. These pictures were found in the middle of videos posted on YouTube Kids. Many parents have been leaving their children to watch programs that appeal as a safe regular children’s program. Halfway through the video, these frightful images and clips appear, shocking the viewers. Many people are shocked to learn that a source they considered as safe and reliable has lost its credibility. It is an outrage to many to know that their children can not browse the internet in a safe manner. 

]]> 2019-03-29 19:48:14 UTC https://padlet.com/ambercorcoran95/zl6ptfoo7oak/wish/346691855 ambercorcoran95 https://padlet.com/ambercorcoran95/zl6ptfoo7oak/wish/346694834 This video describes the character of Momo as someone with bug eyes, a monstrous grimace, and long stringy hair with chicken legs. The image is just as unpleasant as it sounds. This can be quite terrifying to someone who is so young and innocent. Some children that have been exposed to The Momo Challenge have experienced feelings such as anxiety and along with night terrors in reminder of the images and voices they once endured. Again, parents, specialists and even celebrities such as Kim Kardashian remind others of the dangers of allowing your children to browse online. Children should be able to enjoy the internet, but it is important to be aware of exactly what they are doing.

]]> 2019-03-29 20:02:51 UTC https://padlet.com/ambercorcoran95/zl6ptfoo7oak/wish/346694834 ambercorcoran95 https://padlet.com/ambercorcoran95/zl6ptfoo7oak/wish/346697455 Several children have been reported dead due to the Momo Challenge. This has now become a tragedy.  There is a person or group of persons behind a computer screen administrating this sick, twisted online excursion. Innocent people’s lives are being taken due to the neglect of a large corporation’s privacy setting standards. There seems to be little requirements to determining whether a video is eligible to be displayed for children. Parents and guardians of children are committed to spreading the word to ensure that other children are not exposed this potentially harmful and upsetting content. Although parents are reminded to always be cautious with their child’s internet use.

]]> 2019-03-29 20:16:55 UTC https://padlet.com/ambercorcoran95/zl6ptfoo7oak/wish/346697455 ambercorcoran95 https://padlet.com/ambercorcoran95/zl6ptfoo7oak/wish/346708848 When searching ‘The Momo Challenge’ on Twitter, there are thousands of tweets relating to this topic. Many recent tweets claim that the challenge was a hoax to remind parents about the dangers of the internet. I do not believe that it was a hoax, and if it was, it was taken way too far. There are reports of children dead. Parents have shared their stories of being angered to find their child threatened and terrified. These testimonies can’t be false. People wouldn’t lie when it comes to the safety of their children. This is just my personal opinion, but I too must remember to not always believe everything I see or read on the internet.

]]> 2019-03-29 21:25:13 UTC https://padlet.com/ambercorcoran95/zl6ptfoo7oak/wish/346708848 ambercorcoran95 https://padlet.com/ambercorcoran95/zl6ptfoo7oak/wish/346708946 2019-03-29 21:25:58 UTC https://padlet.com/ambercorcoran95/zl6ptfoo7oak/wish/346708946 ambercorcoran95 https://padlet.com/ambercorcoran95/zl6ptfoo7oak/wish/346713174 After sometime of the Momo Challenge becoming viral, a community of Instagram users, that enjoy sharing and receiving humorous and/or inappropriate joke content, otherwise known as memes, began to show interest in The Momo Challenge. This post from Instagram is just an example of the type of content related to Momo that is posted. Much of it can be offensive and inappropriate. As the content posted below is harmful, it is likely that the poster did not create this content. Many users steal content created by other’s in hopes of obtaining more followers. The Momo Challenge content has been trending topic on for this online community.

]]> 2019-03-29 22:06:11 UTC https://padlet.com/ambercorcoran95/zl6ptfoo7oak/wish/346713174 ambercorcoran95 https://padlet.com/ambercorcoran95/zl6ptfoo7oak/wish/346714172 This is an example of the less offensive content related to The Momo Challenge on Instagram. It shows a parody of the typical female ‘before and after makeup’ photo. As you can see, the artist demonstrates that Momo is definitely not a pretty face. The artist then demonstrates what Momo could look like if she just took a bit better care of herself. Despite the harmless joke, we must be reminded that this character has caused harm and trauma to many innocent children. Things like this should not be taken lightly and made a joke out of. Nevertheless, the internet proceeds to get a laugh out of everything.

]]> 2019-03-29 22:15:05 UTC https://padlet.com/ambercorcoran95/zl6ptfoo7oak/wish/346714172 ambercorcoran95 https://padlet.com/ambercorcoran95/zl6ptfoo7oak/wish/346714857 This is a post from Instagram, likely shared by a mother, that I strongly agree with. It states that “Momo doesn’t talk to your child if they have a book in their hand instead of a tablet”. The meaning behind this message is that children are spending way too much time on the internet these days. There are many other sources of entertainment for them, yet they choose to stare at a screen for hours. Children have access to books, sports, nature, friends and family. They do not need to be consumed by the internet. There is nothing wrong with a child spending time online, given that it is limited.

]]> 2019-03-29 22:24:10 UTC https://padlet.com/ambercorcoran95/zl6ptfoo7oak/wish/346714857