Momo Challenge hoax
The "Momo Challenge" is a hoax and urban legend about a social media challenge that did not exist. It was mainly spread on Facebook.[1] The hoax says that victims are made to contact a "Momo" account through social media network WhatsApp. If they do, they get violent images, graphic threats and are told to do dangerous things, including suicide, record it on video and send it to "Momo". They might also say they are going to make their personal information public, hurt their family members, and some are even threatened with curses. An image of a woman with large eyes and mouth, which was shocking to some people, was used with the hoax.[2]
The hoax made people believe the "challenge" had caused many suicides, including one in Argentina, but this is not true according to police.[3][4] The image used by Momo accounts is actually of a sculpture made by a Japanese artist, but some people thought it was a mask or makeup.[5]
References
change- ↑ BBC Newsnight (2019-02-28), Momo Challenge: The viral hoax, retrieved 2019-03-01
- ↑ "What parents must know about the Momo suicide challenge". Theasianparent. 15 August 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
- ↑ Dube Dwilson, Stephanie (August 6, 2018). "Momo Challenge: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy. Archived from the original on August 20, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
- ↑ Noble, Freya (August 2, 2018). "What is Momo? Terrifying 'challenge' linked to 12-year-old's suicide". 9 News. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
- ↑ "Japanese artist behind ghastly creature's fame". Japan Times. 6 March 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2019.