Back in August, fears grew among parents in South America as police were looking for an internet user going by the name, Momo. The nefarious user is said to text children who look for it online and gives them a challenge in which they either hurt themselves or others. It turned out the suicide of a 12-year-old girl in Argentina (mentioned in a previous article) was NOT a result of a “Suicide challenge” as originally suspected and was confirmed by Argentinean authorities.
Recently there’s been a surge in Momo memes on social media (especially Facebook) that have some scratching their heads and others worried, thanks in part to the Police Service of Northern Ireland posting a warning on Facebook about Momo and it’s “challenge” which was brought to their attention thus causing some panic in the UK.
via Link Factory
Claims that Momo appears in children’s videos on Youtube, or contacted youths playing Fortnite have not been confirmed as internet sleuths (professional and amateur) can’t find evidence of claims aren’t found leaving many to figure this is a perfect example of Moral Panic.
Youtube itself has rushed to the dark corners on its own site to see if any video of any kind as described in the claims exist and have found nothing, reaffirming that the Momo challenge is a hoax. The website Know Your Meme has a page about the Momo challenge and has classified it as a Creepypasta (slang term for an internet urban legend).
The Slender Man, a Creepypasta prooven fake time and again but many insist is real.
Though the image of Momo is frightening, it’s not a real person or paranormal entity. It’s just a creepy piece of art made by Link Factory, a Japanese special effects company showcasing a woman/bird hybrid. So parents can breathe easy that a paranormal bird-woman-thing is not talking to their children online but they are still advised to monitor what their children are doing on the internet and who they are talking to.
