Momo, a bigger challenge than I thought

The Momo Challenge is widely spoken about and since this game has reached our area, I decided to investigate it and downloaded the app – more out of curiosity than anything else.

The game starts out innocently enough and the first level instructs you to kill Momo. But, since I have never managed to master Donkey Kong or Pac-Man, I found it difficult to kill it. For technology-minded children it will be a piece of cake.

The game then moves on to giving ‘innocent’ instructions such as (these are only examples) ‘give mom a slap on her backside’. Mom finds it funny and you have a little playful stint. Things then escalate to more serious instructions. The ultimate goal is, of course, to commit suicide.

I also watched a video made by a grown man (abroad, I think) who shows how Momo calls him and speaks to him in a creepy, tiny voice saying things like, “I am in your bedroom, I am going to kill you”, and “Why don’t you talk to me?” if you don’t answer the phone. Lights would start flickering, and TVs, tablets and other electronic gadgets start acting up if you ignore her.

For starters, what I don’t understand, however, is why children find this appealing enough to download the app? The image of Momo is terrifying with her large bulging eyes, her weird and creepy smile and her stringy black hair.

What I also do not understand is that children, most of them growing up in a perfectly normal household with loving parent/ s, are triggered by this game to become aggressive and a danger to others? If Momo instructs you to kill someone (as she allegedly does), why listen, pick up a knife and stab someone to death? I guess this game is so terrifying because she uses fear and intimidation to have children act out their fantasies.

I have heard that if you decide to delete the app, she does not let you go that easily. Fortunately, I was able to delete it and Momo has not stalked me yet – probably because I struggled to kill her in Level 1. I think she realised I am a dead loss and will not be able to harm anyone.

What are your views on this game and what are you doing to keep your children safe? Let me know.

Until next week, take care of one another.