Parents should be wary of a new ‘suicide’ game which is encouraging young people to self harm and in some cases even take their own lives.
The game features a creepy avatar of a woman with dark hair, a beak-like mouth and oversized eyes, which sends young people instructions on how to harm themselves and others.
It’s popping up in social media platforms and games such as WhatsApp and Facebook.
A girl aged 12 and a boy, 16 killed themselves in Colombia last year after playing Momo, which has gone viral around the world. Local media stated that the boy knew the girl and passed the game to her before killing himself. She was found dead two days later.
Parents in Northern Ireland have taken to Facebook to alert other parents as it spreads to the UK.
Links are trolling through other games with the Momo icon even appearing as an avatar in the popular video game Grand Theft Auto 5.
Fox News claims Momo is ‘also linked to the theft of personal data, harassment, extortion, anxiety, depression and insomnia.’
Police in Northern Ireland are also asking parents to supervise the games their children play.
**Suicide game targeting our kids**Some information on the latest “Momo” game which is doing the rounds at the moment…
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THIS IS FOR REAL, not a hoax The MOMO challenge. Read up & have a talk with your kids. It may pop up on their devices. Kelly Maloney Nations Tate K Nations
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What is it?
Momo is a disturbing ‘suicide’ style game that has spread through social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook. Momo begins with an avatar appearing and ‘she’ sends violent images victims and then threatens the player if they refuse to follow the game’s orders.
Players are given challenges to do by the character which escalate, and culminate in them being challenged to take their own life.
The Momo image was originally a sculpture created by a Japanese special effects company called Link Factory but the artist has distanced himself from the latest craze.
Any child worried about peer pressure or online worries can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or their school.
