It is not the first time it happens, but it does not stop putting our hairs on end. We talk about the chilling challenges that circulate through social networks, and to which many teenagers join without being aware of the risks involved.
"Momo" is the latest whatsapp viral that has become fashionable among young people, and which has already alerted the Civil Guard and the National Police with two messages in their Twitter accounts.
According to the Argentine newspaper Buenos Aires Times, the first mortal victim that "Momo" could have caused in Argentina He was only 12 years old, and committed suicide after recording on his mobile phone the moments before his death, with the intention of sharing it on social networks.
Although the authorities of the country are still investigating what happened, they do not rule out that it is indeed this terrifying challenge, which has become so fashionable among young people.
A viral challenge that pushes you to sucidium
The challenge is to add to your whatsapp a strange phone number with prefix +81, from Japan. Immediately, the name of "Momo" will appear on your contact list, and the scary face of a strange woman (which is actually a Japanese sculpture) with a message that translated into Spanish says: "they call me L".
When you make contact with "Momo", it will urge you to forward images with violent messages to your contacts, or even to perform or test other users with actions that involve violence or self-injurious practices. If you refuse to participate in the game, "Momo" may extort you and threaten you with personal information that has previously been obtained from you.
"Momo" has spread like wildfire through several countries such as the United States, France, Germany or Russia, but according to the BBC It is being in Latin America where we hear most about this sinister viral challenge. Not surprisingly, the Japanese telephone number has added another two with the prefix of Colombia (+52) and Mexico (+57).
The experts of the Investigation Unit of Computer Crimes of the General Prosecutor of the State of Tabasco, in Mexico, have warned of the serious risks that may entail coming into contact with "Momo", among which would be extortion, harassment, problems physical and psychological, and even death.
Also, remember the importance of don't talk to strangers, nor offer any type of information that can be used against us.
Also the Civil Guard and the National Police have warned in their Twitter accounts about this viral psychological manipulation game, accompanying their messages with the sinister image of "Momo".#UIDI #FGETabasco #Cibernetica #Tabasco #Villahermosa # PoliceCiberneticsTabasco #SegurosAlNavegar #PrevencionDelitosCibernéticos #MOMO Warning for a new challenge in children and young people, avoid talking to strangers, seek to obtain information that can be used against you. pic.twitter.com/FywFhZFyyH
- UIDI FGE Tabasco (@UIDIFGETabasco) July 12, 2018
Do not add "Momo"!
- Civil Guard (@guardiacivil) July 19, 2018
If you record in your agenda no. +8143510 *** a strange face of a woman will appear. It is the latest fashion WhatsApp viral among teenagers. #NoPiques, joke or cybercriminal attack ❓ Better to add. # SummerSecure pic.twitter.com/qVofD2JZpM
⚠️If you expect #Momo to leave your #smartphone as if it were the worst "movie" of terror ... Buuuu Do not believe it!
- National Police (@policia) July 18, 2018
Forget about absurd virals that become fashionable at @WhatsApp or # RRSS # PasaDeChorradas # SeListo // t.co / Ubh57LRMTy pic.twitter.com/ObEzcnLvTv
I do not know about you, but this image terrifies me and it causes me great discomfort, so I cannot imagine what a child has to feel when they see it.
What can parents do to fight these kinds of viral challenges?
Unfortunately, the challenge of "Momo" is not the first one that appears on social networks, and we assume that it will not be the last. A few months ago we were amazed at the "game" of the Blue Whale, and the challenge of disappearing for 48 hours. We have also echoed other stupid, but very serious health challenges, such as vacuuming condoms, inhaling cinnamon or ingesting liquid detergent.
It is impossible to stop these types of challenges or "games" online that occasionally appear and become viral at high speed. That's why we insist on the importance of educating our children in the responsible use of social networksWell, it is not enough to buy them a mobile phone when asked, or to inform them superficially about the precautions they should take.
According to statistics, children have their first mobile at increasingly early ages. At age 11, almost half of the children have one, at age 12, three out of four and by age 14, nine out of ten already make regular use of the device.
The use of mobile also implies access to social networks and messaging applications (including WhatsApp). Therefore, before putting a mobile in the hands of our son we should ask:
- Are you really ready to have a mobile phone?
- Do you know everything you need to know before you start using social networks?
- Do you know the implications of sharing a photo on the Internet or personal information?
- Have we informed you correctly - and are you sure you are fully aware - about the risks of sexting, grooming, or cyberbullying?
- Do you really know the importance of not talking to strangers or providing any personal information?
- Is there trust and fluid communication between us and our child that leads us to know immediately any problem you may have or situation to which you are exposed? ...
It is the parents' job to teach them make proper use of technologies and social networks, helping them to differentiate what is real from what is not and teaching them that in networks, as in real life, not everything goes, because some acts can have fatal consequences.
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