A mysterious, disfigured character known as 'Momo' has been gaining attention of online users, haunting and tormenting both adults and children that come across the ghastly image. The malicious trend was spotted as far back as July last year, when it started reaching worldwide attention. Having made appearances in various forms online, the malevolent cyber-tactic has begun making waves in the UK, leaving parents and children horrorfied in the process.
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A twisted 'suicide game'
The 'Momo challenge' involves the ghastly figure making contact with the victim by instructing them to contact them via a popular messaging platform. Among all, WhatsApp has been the most prevalent according to countless reports of encounters. Once a user contacts the number, they are then sent a series of various tasks and challenges to complete, each one becoming increasingly twisted as the 'game' progresses. Failure to comply is usually met with bizarre threats, with many reporting threats to their own or family's safety.
While reports have been made of adults being contacted, the chilling phenomenon has been targeting children and adolescents online with the aim of remaining undetected by parents. Many individual cases report being asked to complete dangerous or violent dares, with examples including to turn the gas on or to find and take tablets. Some have even encountered being asked to bring a knife to their throat or even to tale their own life - which is the alleged goal of the 'challenge'.
Detective Sergeant Elaine McCormill from PSNI’s Public Protection Branch explains: "This extremely disturbing challenge conceals itself within other harmless looking games or videos played by children and when downloaded, it asks the user to communicate with ‘Momo’ via popular messaging applications such as WhatsApp. It is at this point that children are threatened that they will be cursed or their family will be hurt if they do not self-harm."
Police have also speculated the use of the challenge by hackers as to store data with intent to steal from or scam the victim.
'Momo' disguised on children's screens
Since the twisted trend began making appreances in the UK, the character has been infiltrating content on popular platforms such as YouTube Kids, Fortnite and Peppa Pig online games. The character reportedly shows up mid-way through seemingly innocent clips and games to avoid being detected. After various concerns had been raised, many schools have taken to social media to warn parents of the terrifying trend.
Due to its accessibility, anyone could actually use the identity of 'Momo' at their disposal, which means that there is no one single agent behind the phenomenon. The prevalence of encounters also remains a mere speculation with not enough evidence collected to make any definitive claims.
Despite vast attention from the press, YouTube has claimed they have yet to receive a report detailing 'Momo':"Contrary to press reports, we have not received any evidence of videos showing or promoting the Momo challenge on YouTube," explained a spokesperson for the video-sharing giant. "Content of this kind would be in violation of our policies and removed immediately," she added.
