Momo challenge

I probably just cursed the board, but Wtf? I just got an email from Miami dade schools warning about this shit. This also made me aware of the blue whale challenge. Have I just been naive about all this shit?
For those that don't know. Some type of message comes up with a link to a challenge. The ending challenge could be to tape yourself committing suicide. This is aimed at tweens and teens.

We got an email about the Momo thing from the school district as well. The kids also got talked to by the Principal today. Had to explain the dangers of the internet to my super inquisitive 3rd grader with the Strangelove tragedy top of mind. Wasn't easy.

Jesus.

My wife just told me, in the Philippines an 11 year old killed themself and a 6 year old was instructed to kill 10 people or Momo would kill them and their parents.

If it makes you feel better....

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/02/momo-challenge-hoax/583825/

Summary- it’s not real. And neither is the blue whale thing that inten mentioned.

It’s called “souping”. I’m Peter DeSantos.

Here's what I got.

You may have seen information shared on social and traditional media about videos targeting children called the “Momo Challenge.” These videos reportedly encourage children to engage in self-harm and/or perform dares, specifically telling them not to tell parents about the activity.

Two important things to note:

We have no reports of TSD students accessing these videos or engaging in this activity.

Much of the information shared on social media about this may not be accurate. For instance, original reports said the videos were available on YouTube Kids, which the company denies. Other reports name this as a new phenomenon, when these messages have been circulating online for at least two years.
What some experts say does seem to be happening now is that hackers may have inserted these “Momo videos” into other videos and games that normally attract young viewers. This reportedly is not isolated to any specific app, online game or website. Here is some more information for parents:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/andyrobertson/2019/02/27/dont-panic-what-parents-really-need-to-know-about-momo-challenge/#6bc120463a4b

The critical takeaway from this is that parents are the best safeguard for children online. Monitoring which websites and content your children view and continually talking with them about internet safety is the most effective way to ensure that they safe online.

In terms of TSD issued iPads, students have never been able to access YouTube Kids (or regular YouTube) and cannot download the app. The same applies to Fortnite and other online games and apps. Content filters are in place that prevents these videos from being accessed individually—both on iPads anywhere and on other devices when connected to TSD wireless internet. But if the hacking reports are accurate, they illustrate another reason why it’s important for parents to be vigilant at home with all online activity.

None of this is intended to frighten parents, though the idea of videos targeting children is scary on its own. We are bringing you this information proactively, so you can continue to have conversations with your family about how to stay safe online.

Here is a good resource about talking to your children about this and other internet “challenges”:

http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Other-Resources/News/Know-Momo-and-her-Deadly-Challenge-to-our-Youth

And finally, we have a fantastic resource for issues like this here in the Troy School District—and that is our parent organized “Tech Talks.” Tech Talks hold regular events for parents to learn more about how to help children safely navigate online. The next event takes place on March 13 at 7 pm in the Services Building (4420 Livernois Rd.) FLYER: Tech Talks March 13.pdf Topics will include technology and the law, monitoring and filtering software, cyber bullying and sexting. This session is specifically for parents (no students please) and space is limited, RSVP to https://bit.ly/2sImAlp.

WhiteBoyHatcher wrote:Here's what I got.

You may have seen information shared on social and traditional media about videos targeting children called the “Momo Challenge.” These videos reportedly encourage children to engage in self-harm and/or perform dares, specifically telling them not to tell parents about the activity.

Two important things to note:

We have no reports of TSD students accessing these videos or engaging in this activity.

Much of the information shared on social media about this may not be accurate. For instance, original reports said the videos were available on YouTube Kids, which the company denies. Other reports name this as a new phenomenon, when these messages have been circulating online for at least two years.
What some experts say does seem to be happening now is that hackers may have inserted these “Momo videos” into other videos and games that normally attract young viewers. This reportedly is not isolated to any specific app, online game or website. Here is some more information for parents:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/andyrobertson/2019/02/27/dont-panic-what-parents-really-need-to-know-about-momo-challenge/#6bc120463a4b

The critical takeaway from this is that parents are the best safeguard for children online. Monitoring which websites and content your children view and continually talking with them about internet safety is the most effective way to ensure that they safe online.

In terms of TSD issued iPads, students have never been able to access YouTube Kids (or regular YouTube) and cannot download the app. The same applies to Fortnite and other online games and apps. Content filters are in place that prevents these videos from being accessed individually—both on iPads anywhere and on other devices when connected to TSD wireless internet. But if the hacking reports are accurate, they illustrate another reason why it’s important for parents to be vigilant at home with all online activity.

None of this is intended to frighten parents, though the idea of videos targeting children is scary on its own. We are bringing you this information proactively, so you can continue to have conversations with your family about how to stay safe online.

Here is a good resource about talking to your children about this and other internet “challenges”:

http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Other-Resources/News/Know-Momo-and-her-Deadly-Challenge-to-our-Youth

And finally, we have a fantastic resource for issues like this here in the Troy School District—and that is our parent organized “Tech Talks.” Tech Talks hold regular events for parents to learn more about how to help children safely navigate online. The next event takes place on March 13 at 7 pm in the Services Building (4420 Livernois Rd.) FLYER: Tech Talks March 13.pdf Topics will include technology and the law, monitoring and filtering software, cyber bullying and sexting. This session is specifically for parents (no students please) and space is limited, RSVP to https://bit.ly/2sImAlp.

I assume you copy pasted that, and also I stopped there because sometimes these school admin people *eye roll emoji*

You have an entire English department sitting right there. Run it by them for some editing you guys. It’s okay. They’ll do it for free.

Hopefully the internet is blown up by the time my kid gets to be this age. Calling dibs on Ty's bunker right now.

Watch Out Pylon! wrote:Hopefully the internet is blown up by the time my kid gets to be this age. Calling dibs on Ty's bunker right now.

My daughter knew my wife's code to her phone before she could talk.

Watch Out Pylon! wrote:Hopefully the internet is blown up by the time my kid gets to be this age. Calling dibs on Ty's bunker right now.

It still will just be a viral hoax that isn’t real and doesn’t exist.

You supposedly smart folks are falling for this one hard ain’t ya

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

Watch Out Pylon! wrote:Hopefully the internet is blown up by the time my kid gets to be this age. Calling dibs on Ty's bunker right now.

It still will just be a viral hoax that isn’t real and doesn’t exist.

It will be soon now that it's being discussed.

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:You supposedly smart folks are falling for this one hard ain’t ya

TBF, I hadn't heard of this until yesterday. I didn't really start looking into it until last night when the school sent out an email about it. At that point I thought I'd look. Reading through different things, it may or may not be a hoax. SE Asia and India seem to be the most concerned.

I thought the fine folks on this board might have heard about it. You guys are better than snopes.

Edit - My daughters teacher even spoke to the class about the Momo challenge. My daughter is always wanting to do challenge now. For instance, for her birthday, she wants to play the Parent can't say No, challenge. There's all sorts of things out there, I try to watch from a distance, so that she can explore, but also tell her to change it away from anything I start to find questionable.

InTenSity wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:You supposedly smart folks are falling for this one hard ain’t ya

TBF, I hadn't heard of this until yesterday. I didn't really start looking into it until last night when the school sent out an email about it. At that point I thought I'd look. Reading through different things, it may or may not be a hoax. SE Asia and India seem to be the most concerned.

I thought the fine folks on this board might have heard about it. You guys are better than snopes.

Think what you want but there aren’t subliminal messages in YouTube videos telling kids to kill themselves.

If it were real you would see, well, the videos.

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

InTenSity wrote:
TBF, I hadn't heard of this until yesterday. I didn't really start looking into it until last night when the school sent out an email about it. At that point I thought I'd look. Reading through different things, it may or may not be a hoax. SE Asia and India seem to be the most concerned.

I thought the fine folks on this board might have heard about it. You guys are better than snopes.

Think what you want but there aren’t subliminal messages in YouTube videos telling kids to kill themselves.

If it were real you would see, well, the videos.

Oh, this isn't about subliminal messages in youtube video's. Not telling kids to kill themselves. This supposedly works, starting with youtube and then knowing how to use a messenger app, like Whatsapp.
Once the 'game' is started, the kids are asked to do challenges, but they get darker and darker. It might start off with staying in your room with the lights off for 2 hours and not talking to anyone. Then move on to other challenges, finally with threats to either the kid or their family if they don't follow through.
This isn't satanic verses if you play dark side of the moon backwards.

InTenSity wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

Think what you want but there aren’t subliminal messages in YouTube videos telling kids to kill themselves.

If it were real you would see, well, the videos.

Oh, this isn't about subliminal messages in youtube video's. Not telling kids to kill themselves. This supposedly works, starting with youtube and then knowing how to use a messenger app, like Whatsapp.
Once the 'game' is started, the kids are asked to do challenges, but they get darker and darker. It might start off with staying in your room with the lights off for 2 hours and not talking to anyone. Then move on to other challenges, finally with threats to either the kid or their family if they don't follow through.
This isn't satanic verses if you play dark side of the moon backwards.

But, like, there is no actual evidence of any of this actually existing.

I didn't really look into it. But if it's another reason to keep my kids off of YouTube/social media I'm using it.

I don't think the argument should be "is it real or not" - if one child harms themselves because of this, regardless of the authenticity or perceived authenticity, it's very real to that child, his/her family and friends.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:I don't think the argument should be "is it real or not" - if one child harms themselves because of this, regardless of the authenticity or perceived authenticity, it's very real to that child, his/her family and friends.

Because of what though? What is “this”? And what’s the appropriate level of response? Should school districts world wide be sending out typo ridden emails inciting panic about.... well.... what?

You should of course monitor what your kids do online. There are a lot of creeps out there. Just look at greenway.

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:I don't think the argument should be "is it real or not" - if one child harms themselves because of this, regardless of the authenticity or perceived authenticity, it's very real to that child, his/her family and friends.

Because of what though? What is “this”? And what’s the appropriate level of response? Should school districts world wide be sending out typo ridden emails inciting panic about.... well.... what?

You should of course monitor what your kids do online. There are a lot of creeps out there. Just look at greenway.

Slenderman wasn't "real" either until the little girl killed the other little girl.

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:I don't think the argument should be "is it real or not" - if one child harms themselves because of this, regardless of the authenticity or perceived authenticity, it's very real to that child, his/her family and friends.

Because of what though? What is “this”? And what’s the appropriate level of response? Should school districts world wide be sending out typo ridden emails inciting panic about.... well.... what?

You should of course monitor what your kids do online. There are a lot of creeps out there. Just look at greenway.

Psa from school: please parent your children, parents. Thank you.

AvgMSUJoe wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

Because of what though? What is “this”? And what’s the appropriate level of response? Should school districts world wide be sending out typo ridden emails inciting panic about.... well.... what?

You should of course monitor what your kids do online. There are a lot of creeps out there. Just look at greenway.

Slenderman wasn't "real" either until the little girl killed the other little girl.

yep - hence my point.. Slenderman wasn't real.. but it became very real for those families very quickly.

and though I agree with OTPT about "parents, please parent your children", it's not always as simple as that. Not all of us are as well-equipped as others, in terms of parenting. We might not have access to appropriate resources, we might be distracted working 3 jobs because we have bills to pay, we might be sick and unable to provide the attention that a situation might demand..

heck, I had two parents who were somewhat engaged.. but I can tell you right now, the difference in me and other kids I knew from school that ended up in really bad situations was simply because I either never got caught or was able to talk myself out of a particular circumstance.

whether it's coaches, neighbors, teachers, or other parents, it takes a village to raise our children and if the schools feel as though they need to reach out to make parents aware of potential dangers, I think that's a good thing.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

AvgMSUJoe wrote:
Slenderman wasn't "real" either until the little girl killed the other little girl.

yep - hence my point.. Slenderman wasn't real.. but it became very real for those families very quickly.

and though I agree with OTPT about "parents, please parent your children", it's not quite as simple as that. Not all of us are as well-equipped as others, in terms of parenting. We might not have access to appropriate resources, we might be distracted working 3 jobs because we have bills to pay, we might be sick and unable to provide the attention that a situation might demand..

it takes a village to raise our children and if the schools feel as though they need to reach out to make parents aware of potential dangers, I think that's a good thing.

Bob the problem is that there has to be proportionality. If you busy freaking out parents about a Momo that doesn’t exist, making people think that some mysterious figure is trying to send their children subliminal messages, when really no such thing exists, then all you’ve achieved is distracting them from real actual online threats that really do exist.

Over here on the right hand of the screen “MOMO IS REAL AND YOUR KIDS ARE GOING TO KILL THEMESLEVES WE ARE SENDING EMAILS AND YOU ALL NEED TO BE AWARE OMG AHHHHHHHHHHHH”

Over here on the left hand of the screen “over here we actually are trying to take money from your kids, poison their brains, turn them into racists, maybe make them curious about meth or some shit, or turn them into some alt right flat earth 9/11 denier lunatic. Thankfully you’re too busy looking for subliminal messages that don’t exist to notice what I’m doing.

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:yep - hence my point.. Slenderman wasn't real.. but it became very real for those families very quickly.

and though I agree with OTPT about "parents, please parent your children", it's not quite as simple as that. Not all of us are as well-equipped as others, in terms of parenting. We might not have access to appropriate resources, we might be distracted working 3 jobs because we have bills to pay, we might be sick and unable to provide the attention that a situation might demand..

it takes a village to raise our children and if the schools feel as though they need to reach out to make parents aware of potential dangers, I think that's a good thing.

Bob the problem is that there has to be proportionality. If you busy freaking out parents about a Momo that doesn’t exist, making people think that some mysterious figure is trying to send their children subliminal messages, when really no such thing exists, then all you’ve achieved is distracting them from real actual online threats that really do exist.

Over here on the right hand of the screen “MOMO IS REAL AND YOUR KIDS ARE GOING TO KILL THEMESLEVES WE ARE SENDING EMAILS AND YOU ALL NEED TO BE AWARE OMG AHHHHHHHHHHHH”

Over here on the left hand of the screen “over here we actually are trying to take money from your kids, poison their brains, turn them into racists, maybe make them curious about meth or some shit, or turn them into some alt right flat earth 9/11 denier lunatic. Thankfully you’re too busy looking for subliminal messages that don’t exist to notice what I’m doing.

It kind of seems like you're freaking out.

NigelUno wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

Bob the problem is that there has to be proportionality. If you busy freaking out parents about a Momo that doesn’t exist, making people think that some mysterious figure is trying to send their children subliminal messages, when really no such thing exists, then all you’ve achieved is distracting them from real actual online threats that really do exist.

Over here on the right hand of the screen “MOMO IS REAL AND YOUR KIDS ARE GOING TO KILL THEMESLEVES WE ARE SENDING EMAILS AND YOU ALL NEED TO BE AWARE OMG AHHHHHHHHHHHH”

Over here on the left hand of the screen “over here we actually are trying to take money from your kids, poison their brains, turn them into racists, maybe make them curious about meth or some shit, or turn them into some alt right flat earth 9/11 denier lunatic. Thankfully you’re too busy looking for subliminal messages that don’t exist to notice what I’m doing.

It kind of seems like you're freaking out.

Not really Nigel.

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

NigelUno wrote:

It kind of seems like you're freaking out.

Not really Nigel.

Yes, really...you are.

It's a message board freak out, but still a freak out.

Settle down.

NigelUno wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

Not really Nigel.

Yes, really...you are.

It's a message board freak out, but still a freak out.

Settle down.

Okay Nigel.

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:yep - hence my point.. Slenderman wasn't real.. but it became very real for those families very quickly.

and though I agree with OTPT about "parents, please parent your children", it's not quite as simple as that. Not all of us are as well-equipped as others, in terms of parenting. We might not have access to appropriate resources, we might be distracted working 3 jobs because we have bills to pay, we might be sick and unable to provide the attention that a situation might demand..

it takes a village to raise our children and if the schools feel as though they need to reach out to make parents aware of potential dangers, I think that's a good thing.

Bob the problem is that there has to be proportionality. If you busy freaking out parents about a Momo that doesn’t exist, making people think that some mysterious figure is trying to send their children subliminal messages, when really no such thing exists, then all you’ve achieved is distracting them from real actual online threats that really do exist.

Over here on the right hand of the screen “MOMO IS REAL AND YOUR KIDS ARE GOING TO KILL THEMESLEVES WE ARE SENDING EMAILS AND YOU ALL NEED TO BE AWARE OMG AHHHHHHHHHHHH”

Over here on the left hand of the screen “over here we actually are trying to take money from your kids, poison their brains, turn them into racists, maybe make them curious about meth or some shit, or turn them into some alt right flat earth 9/11 denier lunatic. Thankfully you’re too busy looking for subliminal messages that don’t exist to notice what I’m doing.

I agree.

To travis’ point - when it comes to marketing to kids, we don’t give a fuck. Capitalism, baby.

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

NigelUno wrote:

Yes, really...you are.

It's a message board freak out, but still a freak out.

Settle down.

Okay Nigel.

Thank you.

Nigel is the expert on message boards freak outs. Glad you were able to get Travis calmed down, good job.

Travis is out of control!!!!

Someone get me my tranquilizer gun.

I bet they'll be real copycats to this fake threat now.  All the PSAs that they duped people into sending might have spoke it into existence.

Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:To travis’ point - when it comes to marketing to kids, we don’t give a fuck. Capitalism, baby.

Pretty much covers it.

kingstonlake wrote:

Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:To travis’ point - when it comes to marketing to kids, we don’t give a fuck. Capitalism, baby.

Pretty much covers it.

Remember joe camel? OTPT nails it. They know a kid will be loyal to a cigarette brand and beer they start with, so they hit up the kids.

DWags wrote:

kingstonlake wrote:

Pretty much covers it.

Remember joe camel? OTPT nails it. They know a kid will be loyal to a cigarette brand and beer they start with, so they hit up the kids.

I'm old.............................so yes.