Momo Challenge - Real Issue or Hoax

Dazzler21

To anyone worried about Momo I have been looking all day (outside of work hours) for any evidence of this thing...

I have just spent a few hours watching YouTube Kids and saw nothing.

i have spent 4 hours before work watching actual youtube and there were some fake peppa pig videos that included some violence but no Momo.

I'm beginning to think this is all a hoax, I'm yet to see a single quality piece of evidence that this Momo stuff is real.

I feel like it's just been created to harm YouTube and in turn Google.

Has anyone on here actually experienced the videos playing or seen any WhatsApps on their kids phones.

ForeverAddickted

What is it for those of us unaware?

i_b_b_o_r_g

Can't stand U2 

Dazzler21

ForeverAddickted said:

What is it for those of us unaware?

Apologies it's a widely reported thing in the media in which allegedly kids videos are being uploaded that look completely legit but during the videos a character appears and orders the children watching to complete certain challenges that get progressively more fucked up until the final challenge... Suicide.

This is targeting 5-15 year olds and allegedly has been seen on Peppa pig and Fortnite videos.

As I say across today and yesterday I must have seen maybe 15-20 hours of video and not seen anything suspicious other than the Weird fake Peppa pig videos in Portuguese.

ForeverAddickted

Dazzler21 said:

ForeverAddickted said:

What is it for those of us unaware?

Apologies it's a widely reported thing in the media in which allegedly kids videos are being uploaded that look completely legit but during the videos a character appears and orders the children watching to complete certain challenges that get progressively more fucked up until the final challenge... Suicide.

This is targeting 5-15 year olds and allegedly has been seen on Peppa pig and Fortnite videos.

As I say across today and yesterday I must have seen maybe 15-20 hours of video and not seen anything suspicious other than the Weird fake Peppa pig videos in Portuguese.

Cheers but ultimately... WTF!!

cafcdave123

Dazzler21 said:

To anyone worried about Momo I have been looking all day (outside of work hours) for any evidence of this thing...

I have just spent a few hours watching YouTube Kids and saw nothing.

i have spent 4 hours before work watching actual youtube and there were some fake peppa pig videos that included some violence but no Momo.

I'm beginning to think this is all a hoax, I'm yet to see a single quality piece of evidence that this Momo stuff is real.

I feel like it's just been created to harm YouTube and in turn Google.

Has anyone on here actually experienced the videos playing or seen any WhatsApps on their kids phones.

haven't seen any evidence of it but the kids were spoken to about it at school and we got a parent mail email about it.

whilst i think its probably bollocks, there are some sick weirdos out there so unfortunately, I wouldn't be surprised  

Scoham

Someone brought this up at my work yesterday. I've looked around and I agree, I think it's a hoax.

Makes me more wary of letting my 3 year old watch YouTube though, which probably isn't a bad thing. We use it through our TV, I've since turned on restricted mode. It probably won't make a difference to the sort of stuff he watches, but better to have it on than not.

Dazzler21

ForeverAddickted said:

Dazzler21 said:

ForeverAddickted said:

What is it for those of us unaware?

Apologies it's a widely reported thing in the media in which allegedly kids videos are being uploaded that look completely legit but during the videos a character appears and orders the children watching to complete certain challenges that get progressively more fucked up until the final challenge... Suicide.

This is targeting 5-15 year olds and allegedly has been seen on Peppa pig and Fortnite videos.

As I say across today and yesterday I must have seen maybe 15-20 hours of video and not seen anything suspicious other than the Weird fake Peppa pig videos in Portuguese.

Cheers but ultimately... WTF!!

Yep. Hence my research. When you hear that kind of shite is apparently on YouTube and you use YouTube to play videos to distract your little one as you do chores etc you have to check it out...

Fortunately I found nada. Nothing. Zilch.

Callumcafc

Might be more a case of exaggeration rather than an outright lie. Look up Elsagate. This ‘hoax’ feels like a branch off of that.

There is some proper weird characters hidden away on YouTube and they are struggling to manually moderate the hours upon hours of video that is being uploaded to their website every second - it’s impossible to do.


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsagate

Bedsaddick

Eh ?

Callumcafc

Bedsaddick said:

Eh ?

People are posting children’s content on YouTube and splicing it with inappropriate video clips. They can bypass the YouTube filters by wrapping it in a few colourful cartoon pictures.

The kid opens YouTube and starts watching a normal episode of their favourite cartoon. After it’s done, YouTube will automatically play a related video (another cartoon) and another after that and another and another and so on.

Eventually kids will end up watching something horrific in the middle of their xth episode of Peppa Pig eg abuse, self harm, sexual content...

This “momo” hoax appears to be born out of that. People are claiming that a creepy character appears  and tells kids to do challenges for them. The directness of that approach is a bit too far fetched for me to believe but it wouldn’t shock me if such a video slipped through YouTube’s automatic moderation system.

Dazzler21

I watched so much Fortnite and Peppa Pig across YouTube and Youtube Kids. 

As I've said Fortunately nothing found.

Cafc43v3r

I have also heard stories of kids being exposed to hard core porn through YouTube.  I watch more yt than actually tele most days and I have never "stumbled upon" hardcore porn.  Maybe I am doing it wrong? 

Wheresmeticket

There is no "hard core" porn in YouTube.

Interestingly I saw a Momo like on one of those far right pages that post pictures of cute kittens and so on in an attempt to get shares.

hoof_it_up_to_benty

I find it quite sickening how parents use tablets as a pacifier for tiny children - that's the biggest concern.

Impossible to know where technology is heading.

JaShea99

hoof_it_up_to_benty said:

I find it quite sickening how parents use tablets as a pacifier for tiny children - that's the biggest concern.

Impossible to know where technology is heading.

Yeah but what else are parents supposed to do? Talk to their children?

hoof_it_up_to_benty

JaShea99 said:

hoof_it_up_to_benty said:

I find it quite sickening how parents use tablets as a pacifier for tiny children - that's the biggest concern.

Impossible to know where technology is heading.

Yeah but what else are parents supposed to do? Talk to their children?

No that would be ridiculous. 

Dazzler21

hoof_it_up_to_benty said:

I find it quite sickening how parents use tablets as a pacifier for tiny children - that's the biggest concern.

Impossible to know where technology is heading.

I agree to a degree.

We don't give our phones or tablets to our child when out and about as that is both a bad habit and bad manners, however we do use YouTube on the TV at home in the background when doing chores etc as our little one doesn't really like most of the Cbeebies stuff.

Any parent knows, TV doesn't work for long as a distraction but if it buys us 20 mins to get chores done, so be it.

AFKABartram

I’ve no doubt this is a hoax, exaggerated etc, but in the past I’ve discovered inappropriate stuff midway through kids videos on YouTube. Some strange people out there 

DaveMehmet

I tend to steer well clear 

johnnybev1987

I was reading someones FB, they also investigated it as their wife was scared / keeping an eye on it. They have said its all been linked to fake news and there never have been any videos on youtube, so it appears a Hoax/ Scam

ForeverAddickted

hoof_it_up_to_benty said:

I find it quite sickening how parents use tablets as a pacifier for tiny children - that's the biggest concern.

Impossible to know where technology is heading.

My Godkids are heavily reliant on their iPads and have never liked it... My son on the other hand shows no interest in phones etc. because we dont let him near them yet at the same time shows no interest in them either, barely shows interest in the TV either, i.e. we'll put him in his jumperoo with a bit of Paw Patrol on when having to get things done but much prefers running around, playing with his toys and being a general nuisance lol!

Personally as a fan of technology myself I ideally dont want him having an iPad until he's at a decent age (Probably Secondary School)... Until then I think kids should just enjoy playing with actual toys like Lego (when they're old enough) or even better be outside - As human beings we're becoming far too reliant on Technology when it should mainly be embraced when needed

Bangkok Dave

It seems to be being shared through Whatsapp. Or at least this is how it has reached some students here in Thailand -  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/momo-challenge-resurfaces-police-issue-warning-to-parents/

Daddy_Pig

Have seen violent Peppa Pig stuff on YouTube. Stabbings etc. We run YouTube through the TV and it came up on there so fortunately everyone saw it and stopped it right away.

Not seen anything to do with challenges though. 

ShootersHillGuru

ForeverAddickted said:

hoof_it_up_to_benty said:

I find it quite sickening how parents use tablets as a pacifier for tiny children - that's the biggest concern.

Impossible to know where technology is heading.

My Godkids are heavily reliant on their iPads and have never liked it... My son on the other hand shows no interest in phones etc. because we dont let him near them yet at the same time shows no interest in them either, barely shows interest in the TV either, i.e. we'll put him in his jumperoo with a bit of Paw Patrol on when having to get things done but much prefers running around, playing with his toys and being a general nuisance lol!

Personally as a fan of technology myself I ideally dont want him having an iPad until he's at a decent age (Probably Secondary School)... Until then I think kids should just enjoy playing with actual toys like Lego (when they're old enough) or even better be outside - As human beings we're becoming far too reliant on Technology when it should mainly be embraced when needed

I can fully understand why you want to ration and control technology for your child but I think you have to accept that iPads etc are here and very much mainstream for even quite small children. iPads are used in Primary schools and a very large percentage of children will be using them at home too. Denying access is not only unrealistic but could disadvantage a child. Like most things in life especially with children I think the best course is the middle one. Parents in control and on top of the issue. I’m sorry but expecting today’s children to play with and play like we did is just not possible. Technology is still expanding exponentially and we have to come to terms with it. Certainly have traditional toys and games available and encourage their use but to deny the existence or use of technology is in my view building up a few problems further down the track.

Having said that. The bottom line is that you have to do what you think is best. 

Chunes

Recommend letting your kid watch their shows on Netflix if you're worried about them stumbling across bad content on YouTube. No ads either. 

I personally don't have a problem with kids using iPads, although we don't really let ours use them as they're just toddlers.

What I don't like is seeing kids at restaurant dinner tables with headphones and iPads who can't even be dragged away from the glow of the screen to eat the dinner in front of them, let alone talk to someone. That's where technology use crosses the line into being unhealthy.

hoof_it_up_to_benty

ShootersHillGuru said:

ForeverAddickted said:

hoof_it_up_to_benty said:

I find it quite sickening how parents use tablets as a pacifier for tiny children - that's the biggest concern.

Impossible to know where technology is heading.

My Godkids are heavily reliant on their iPads and have never liked it... My son on the other hand shows no interest in phones etc. because we dont let him near them yet at the same time shows no interest in them either, barely shows interest in the TV either, i.e. we'll put him in his jumperoo with a bit of Paw Patrol on when having to get things done but much prefers running around, playing with his toys and being a general nuisance lol!

Personally as a fan of technology myself I ideally dont want him having an iPad until he's at a decent age (Probably Secondary School)... Until then I think kids should just enjoy playing with actual toys like Lego (when they're old enough) or even better be outside - As human beings we're becoming far too reliant on Technology when it should mainly be embraced when needed

I can fully understand why you want to ration and control technology for your child but I think you have to accept that iPads etc are here and very much mainstream for even quite small children. iPads are used in Primary schools and a very large percentage of children will be using them at home too. Denying access is not only unrealistic but could disadvantage a child. Like most things in life especially with children I think the best course is the middle one. Parents in control and on top of the issue. I’m sorry but expecting today’s children to play with and play like we did is just not possible. Technology is still expanding exponentially and we have to come to terms with it. Certainly have traditional toys and games available and encourage their use but to deny the existence or use of technology is in my view building up a few problems further down the track.

Having said that. The bottom line is that you have to do what you think is best. 

So many parents have given away control over their children's use of technology and to be so unquestioning over its use is naive in the extreme.

If young children are allowed unrestricted access to the internet then that's just neglect.

There's an over reliance in education with technology - some of it is just lazy teaching.

Technology is taking over a lot of kids lives and we shouldn't be so in thrall to it.

cafc-4-life

Dazzler21 said:

To anyone worried about Momo I have been looking all day (outside of work hours) for any evidence of this thing...

I have just spent a few hours watching YouTube Kids and saw nothing.

i have spent 4 hours before work watching actual youtube and there were some fake peppa pig videos that included some violence but no Momo.

I'm beginning to think this is all a hoax, I'm yet to see a single quality piece of evidence that this Momo stuff is real.

I feel like it's just been created to harm YouTube and in turn Google.

Has anyone on here actually experienced the videos playing or seen any WhatsApps on their kids phones.

I would love to say it was a hoax but the reason you cannot find anything, is because it's been removed of YouTube and all other sources to stop it. I first heard about this months back and saw many youtube videos available of which some where freaky. You would hear how the children would meet Momo in Minecraft and then ask them to WhatsApp. This has been about for a year but only since the media has picked up on it more recently, that YouTube have made any motivation to remove it from its site.

hoof_it_up_to_benty

cafc-4-life said:

Dazzler21 said:

To anyone worried about Momo I have been looking all day (outside of work hours) for any evidence of this thing...

I have just spent a few hours watching YouTube Kids and saw nothing.

i have spent 4 hours before work watching actual youtube and there were some fake peppa pig videos that included some violence but no Momo.

I'm beginning to think this is all a hoax, I'm yet to see a single quality piece of evidence that this Momo stuff is real.

I feel like it's just been created to harm YouTube and in turn Google.

Has anyone on here actually experienced the videos playing or seen any WhatsApps on their kids phones.

I would love to say it was a hoax but the reason you cannot find anything, is because it's been removed of YouTube and all other sources to stop it. I first heard about this months back and saw many youtube videos available of which some where freaky. You would hear how the children would meet Momo in Minecraft and then ask them to WhatsApp. This has been about for a year but only since the media has picked up on it more recently, that YouTube have made any motivation to remove it from its site.

Most adults are clueless about what children get up to online. The technology giants haven't shown much desire to police their platforms.

stackitsteve

Bit of background here for those interested. As cafc-4-life said, it seems to have been around a while now, first reported back in July 2018

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momo_Challenge

Big_Bad_World

hoof_it_up_to_benty said:

cafc-4-life said:

Dazzler21 said:

To anyone worried about Momo I have been looking all day (outside of work hours) for any evidence of this thing...

I have just spent a few hours watching YouTube Kids and saw nothing.

i have spent 4 hours before work watching actual youtube and there were some fake peppa pig videos that included some violence but no Momo.

I'm beginning to think this is all a hoax, I'm yet to see a single quality piece of evidence that this Momo stuff is real.

I feel like it's just been created to harm YouTube and in turn Google.

Has anyone on here actually experienced the videos playing or seen any WhatsApps on their kids phones.

I would love to say it was a hoax but the reason you cannot find anything, is because it's been removed of YouTube and all other sources to stop it. I first heard about this months back and saw many youtube videos available of which some where freaky. You would hear how the children would meet Momo in Minecraft and then ask them to WhatsApp. This has been about for a year but only since the media has picked up on it more recently, that YouTube have made any motivation to remove it from its site.

Most adults are clueless about what children get up to online. The technology giants haven't shown much desire to police their platforms.

Online, at school, when out with their friends/acquaintances, on their phones etc.

A lot of parents are clueless to all of the above so it's not a problem with technology.