Dark Web on Internet that Parent should be aware of – Momo Challenge
With increasing developments in this digital age, it is not a surprise that every kid owns a smartphone. Indeed it is a surprise that the smartphone can perpetuate a foul agenda of self-harm and suicide. Hearing the terms ‘Blue Whale’ or ‘Slender Man’ can be familiar and horrifying but here is another sadistic addition to the list and it is named ‘Momo Challenge’.
Momo was born initially as a joke among some friends in Japan and it is nothing more than a peculiar sculpture exhibited in Vanilla gallery in Tokyo. The picture of Momo was first uploaded on the internet in August 2016 and since then it has become an urban legend in the Spanish-speaking web and is associated with the number that can be added to WhatsApp. This obviously took the Spanish speaking side of South America by a storm which indeed is now contagious worldwide.
This challenge which is suicidal and as deadly as Blue Whale challenge is now doing rounds like wildfire on the social media including WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube. And finally, the headlines are now screaming that ‘suicide’ challenge linked to the death of 12-year-old girl outside Buenos-Aires and the infamous Blue Whale challenge took away 130 lives which mostly includes teens and is obviously incredibly sad and tragic. So, it is important that we safeguard our children from such activities.
Keep yourself informed and do your own research about the challenge. Don’t give into the media frenzy and here are few tips to protect your kid from cyber-challenges.
- Watch out for any mood changes in your child. Any sudden withdrawal, moodiness or lack of communications should be red flags. Consult a child psychologist.
- Inculcate a relationship of trust with the children. Be approachable and don’t reproach. It will only make the child more secretive and disdainful of you.
- Educate the child and encourage independent thinking instead of following the herd mentality. Tell them about the repercussions of such games.
- Monitor your child’s internet behavior covertly and keep track of his or her friends.
- Make sure your child has access only to age-appropriate sites and have a Parental-Control app.
- Be a role model to your child and be mindful of your own online activities.
When the Blue Whale Challenge was tackled, parents heaved a collective sigh of relief, thinking it was the last of such deadly challenges. But it’s disturbing that a challenge modeled on the Blue Whale has cropped up exactly a year after. Although the menace seems to be contained, as parents, one cannot ignore the sudden influx of such dark games, including Slender Man that can have invaded the world. The best bet at such times is for parents to be more media savvy and communicate more openly with their children.
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