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Online Safety - Momo

CLICK HERE to download a parent information leaflet about Momo. 

I am sure many of you have heard about ‘Momo’ – a WhatsApp game which is causing many children across the country to feel scared or unsettled. Participants contact Momo and are then told to do a series of challenges – some of these allegedly involve children hurting themselves.  There has been a lot in the media about this and many children and young people have been talking about it. Unfortunately, there isn’t just one Momo WhatsApp user – there are several.

We have received some information from the local authority about this – much of it is very reassuring. Although many children have been scared by Momo, there is very little evidence that anyone has actually been physically harmed by it.

If your child is scared, reassure them that Momo is not real.

Be present when your child is accessing the internet.

Talk to your child about online safety.

We advise you follow online safety advice:

  • Ensure you know what your children can access online
  • Ensure children understand the importance of not giving personal information to anyone they do not know
  • Tell your children no-one has the right to make them do anything they do not want to do
  • Use parental controls to keep children safe
  • If they see anything that makes them uncomfortable, they should tell an adult straightaway

Among the most common signs to watch out for include children who:

  • Become very secretive, especially about what they are doing online
  • Are spending a lot of time on the internet and social media
  • Are switching screens on their device when approached
  • Are withdrawn or angry after using the internet or sending text messages
  • Have lots of new phone numbers or email addresses on their devices

If you have any concerns, please let us know.