Tech expert Leticia Barr is here with everything parents need to know about the Momo Challenge hoax, and how to use apps like YouTube and YouTube Kids safely.
If you have a child, chances are you’ve heard about the Momo Challenge. A creepy image has been flying around the internet accompanying stories of videos that have been hacked by “Momo” with instructions on how kids should kill themselves in order to keep Momo from killing their entire family. Lovely.
So let’s get something out of the way right now: it’s a hoax.
The image, which is creepy, is actually from a Japanese sculpture, and had nothing at all to do with the internet, kids, or suicide. But the image became part of an urban legend and spread like wildfire. And along with the Momo Challenge legend came stories of hacked YouTube videos and links to actual suicides.
The problem for parents seemed to be a mix of confusion about what was real and a lack of knowledge about how YouTube works, what its relationship is to YouTube Kids (which had its own suicide video scandal), and what parents can do to keep their kids safe while watching videos online. Fake stories were shared tens of thousands of times in Facebook groups and listservs and email chains.
We’ve brought on family tech expert, and founder of the website Tech Savvy Mama, Leticia Barr to help us sort it all out.
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This Week's Links
Intro (00:00:11)
Andrea Smith, technology guru extraordinaire
YouTube still can’t stop child predators in its comments, by Julia Alexander — The Verge
Momo Challenge hoax — Wikipedia
Interview with Leticia Barr (00:02:15)
Leticia Barr, Tech Savvy Mama
YouTube Kids Scare — PediMom
How Much of a Threat Is the Purported ‘Momo Challenge’ Suicide Game? by David Mikkelson — Snopes
Five Ways to Keep Kids Safe on YouTube and YouTube Kids, by Leticia Barr — Tech Savvy Mama
How to Set Up Parent Approved Content on YouTube Kids in 2 Easy Steps, by Leticia Barr — Tech Savvy Mama
How to report inappropriate content — YouTube
Parents shouldn’t fear Momo. They Should Fear How Little They Understand YouTube. by Tanya Chen and Julia Reinstein — BuzzFeed News
Definitely not a Rick Astley video
Parenting Bytes Episode 95 — Media Literacy: We Need To Teach Our Kids How To Tell When News Is Fake
Momo Is Not Trying to Kill Children, by Taylor Lorenz — The Atlantic
Momo Challenge isn’t real: How parents can deal with internet hoaxes — abc7 New York
Additional resources from Leticia:
6 Pro Tips for Keeping Kids Safer on YouTube Kids
Important Conversations to Have with Your Kids About YouTube Content
Why You Need to Set Up YouTube Parental Controls
Bytes of the Week (00:25:43)
What causes a stroke? After Luke Perry’s death, know stroke symptoms and causes, by Meghan Holohan – Today
Remembering Luke Perry, the poster boy of 90s studs, by Michelle Ruiz – Vogue
Luke Perry walked so Jordan Catalano could run, by Rob Sheffield — Rolling Stone
Want a Castle in Turkey? You May Find a Bargain, by Carlotta Gall — NY Times
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