The internet has hosted countless hoaxes and the effects of these deceptions have the potential to be very harmful. Some hoaxes can be helpful in the way in which people are brought together or a positive change is made after the situation is realized to be a “hoax.” I would argue that every hoax has some kind of impact on society whether it be negative or positive. Unfortunately, many hoaxes are solely created to draw attention, stir drama, or spread paranoia.
One hoax that terrified the online community back in February is known widely as the “Momo Challenge.” This haunting image of a “demonic chicken lady,” “Momo,” was spread on various apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and YouTube. “Momo” supposedly motivated teens to send around violent messages that encouraged self-harm. Part of the reason the hoax became so widespread is due to parents’ curiosity about their children’s online presence.
The #momochallange has renewed the conversation about children and online safety. @CdnChildProtect shares tips on how to talk to your kids and what steps parents can take to keep them safe https://t.co/gzoOoqJ4SI pic.twitter.com/BkvXXsxfB6
— CTV Morning Live WPG (@CTVMorningWPG) March 6, 2019
Is there a moral panic around children’s Internet use? I've been trying to understand parents' concerns about their children's Internet use for some time now, and I'd love to know what you think, whether or not you're a parent. https://t.co/9Pbrr9iKMT #moralpanic #momochallenge
— Anna Tankel (@AnnaTankel) July 15, 2019
One parent that spoke out about the dangers of this challenge was Kim Kardashian. She reached out to her fans via Instagram and advised them to “Please monitor what [their] kids are watching!!!” Kim Kardashian also communicated with YouTube and demanded that they remove any content related to the challenge. The videos posted online concluded with “Momo telling the participant to take their own life and record it for social media.”
The “Momo Challenge” was proven to be a hoax because there was no evidence of messages or footage discovered where teens pursued the challenge. It was also discovered that “Momo” was initially created as an art piece displayed by a gallery that had no connection to the challenge.
https://www.npr.org/2019/03/02/699663319/the-latest-internet-hoax-momo-challenge
https://www.vox.com/2019/3/3/18248783/momo-challenge-hoax-explained
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kim-kardashian-warns-parents-of-momo-challenge-youtube-take-action/