Alarm for the alleged appearance of "Momo" on YouTube for kids – ElSol.com.ar – Diario de Mendoza, Argentina

In recent weeks, the "Momo Challenge", or "Momo Challenge", a dangerous virtual challenge popularized last year by teenagers around the world via WhatsApp, has triggered a new alert among Mendoza's parents. This time, the virus became overloaded because According to some sources, it appears hidden in children's videos via different digital platforms.

In Mendoza, The warnings circulate mainly in different groups of WhatsApp fathers and mothers. So-called videos are circulating on YouTube Kids where, in the middle of a song or a children's cartoon, appears the terrifying figure of Momo, which encourages boys to self-destruct and attack the family environment.

The situation is repeated elsewhere. According to reports, in various children's videos that circulate on social networks, the character of Momo is observed, with his sinister smile, appearing without warning, apologizing for suicide.

Care for parents! They insert #momo in YouTube videos !! # videoschildren pic.twitter.com/kcZZHAUEBk

– Guga Aguilera V (@Guga_agui) March 15, 2019

Children's content starts "innocently" like any ordinary episode, but after a few seconds – usually half of the video and no one expecting it – it becomes a versión altered by violence and offensive language, where scenes of Momo seem to incite to hurt.

For those who have kids, pay attention to what they see on YouTube, they are going to search for "kids" videos filtered out on Youtube, even on YouTube kids, with Momo content that encourages children to commit suicide. #MOMO pic.twitter.com/5TkislV4IL

– Andre (@Negrita_nB) March 15, 2019

In front of so much concern about the alleged appearance of Momo on the video platform for children, Youtube said that there was no evidence that there really are videos with the character on the platform. However, on his official Twitter account, he stressed the importance of parents being alert to what children watch and report inappropriate content.

"We are always vigilant to protect our users and comply with the guidelines of the community.If you see videos containing harmful or dangerous challenges on YouTube, report them immediately!" Said the famous platform.

We are always vigilant to protect our users and comply with community standards. If you watch videos with harmful or dangerous challenges #YoutubeReport them immediately! Learn more here → https://t.co/B5Zq0JtlvO pic.twitter.com/hv7Y5XoFB3

– YouTube in Spanish (@YouTubeEspanol) March 1, 2019

Be that as it may, in schools in other countries, such as Spain or England, the authorities have already lodged a complaint and several parents have expressed concern about the content their children watch on the Internet.

How to prevent

• Be attentive to the use of media, social networks, online games and videos that children watch.
• Help girls and boys set up privacy and geolocation options.
• Verify that you are adding only known people as contacts.
• Evaluate with them foreign messages or requests for friendship, as this can be a trap.
• Talk about the importance of not transmitting personal information and photos to people who do not come from their usual environment.
• Warn them not to enter unknown pages and recommend that they download only the applications on the official sites.
• Be alert to sudden changes in character or habits. They can be victims of a crime.

In 2018, the Momo "challenge" has become a phenomenon that has given rise to global concern. The challenge was to add a phone number to WhatsApp and start a conversation with the person behind that number. There, a user called Momo would have incited the children to flog themselves and even to commit suicide.

See also: A child dies after performing the demonic "Momo Challenge"

The last case is from last week in Miami, where a 11-year-old Peruvian boy committed suicide. His parents badured that they had noticed changes of attitude at his home, but they were not aware of the boy's contact with "Momo".