National Online Safety, a company that teaches teachers how to talk about online safety for kids, has created a guide for parents on the "Momo Challenge". But these fears are unfounded. (Photo: National Online Saafety)

You know the scary "Momo Challenge" that spreads viral on YouTube, with instructions for children in videos to commit suicide? Should you be worried?

Yes.

But not about videos.

Let's just say this: The Momo challenge is a hoax. To recover it as anything else is irresponsible and should stop. At once.

Of course, this has not prevented a lot of media – including some news broadcasts from Phoenix TV – from talking about it as an outbreak of bubonic plague.

It's not even a new hoax. It appears from time to time – not later than last summer – and always greedy media, hungry for hits, viewers and listeners, jump on their feet, the truth is cursed, by reporting this new danger for your children.

You know that your dopey hoax hit hard when Kim Kardashian West posted an article on Instagram about it. There may be no better validation of inept behavior.

What is it?

It is assumed that people receive instructions on WhatsApp or see what looks like children's videos on YouTube, along with coded images and instructions to follow, including telling them to hurt others. people or even commit suicide. This involves images of a truly frightening Japanese statue that has absolutely nothing to do with it.

It's perfect to put parents in panic. But there is no evidence that this actually happens as part of a coordinated game or challenge (although it is possible that random videos are created by creepy creatures who want to follow the trend). So far, there is no substantiated evidence of any prejudice.

YouTube, obviously concerned, issued a statement regarding the supposed trend:

"Many of you have shared your concerns over the past few days about the Momo Challenge. We have paid particular attention to these reports. After much criticism, we have not seen any recent evidence of videos promoting the Momo Challenge on YouTube.

"Videos promoting harmful and dangerous challenges are clearly at odds with our policies, including the Momo Challenge." Despite press reports, we have never reported recent or shared YouTube links that break the rules. of our community. "

You see all sorts of wacky and fake things online – the timeline of Facebook has not been littered with messages about how the company's algorithm has changed. If you do not do this or that, you will only see messages from 26 of your friends? Or that you have to claim the copyright of each photo you have published? It's boring but harmless.

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All of this plays into people's natural suspicion about social media and online life in general. Real problems such as massive data leaks do nothing to alleviate these fears.

The media, however, should not play in these fears. Doing it is just wrong, no matter how much it improves your ratings. So, please, cut it out.

Contact Goodykoontz at [email protected]. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. Twitter: @goodyk.

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