An minister has told parliament there is no confirmed evidence that the so-called ‘Momo challenge’ is posing a real threat to British children.
Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom pointed to children’s charities, including the Samaritans, who have said reports of the ghoulish figure encouraging kids to self-harm, is a hoax.
Fear of the ‘Momo challenge’ had been rising in recent days amid unsubstantiated warnings the so-called ‘suicide game’ could appear in the middle of programmes such as Peppa Pig on YouTube Kids.
[READ MORE: ‘Momo Challenge’ Debunked – 6 Tips For Parents Dealing With Scaremongering ’Suicide Games’]
The challenge reportedly presented like old-fashioned ‘chain letters’, only with a cyber-bullying twist, and first came to light in 2018 after being supposedly linked to a number of deaths in Argentina, Columbia and India.
Links were never proven but concern has grown and in parliament on Thursday MP Douglas Ross asked the house for a debate on online safety after being contacted by worried constituents.
Ross said: “Can we have a debate and allow the government to explain what more we can do to protect and educate young people about the scourge of these online dangers?”
Leadsom said the “appalling” challenge was “one the government is extremely concerned about” and new laws were being drawn up to force internet companies to act to protect vulnerable users, including children.
However, the Commons Leader also said charities have told her there is “no confirmed evidence” Momo had led any children in the UK to self-harm.
She said: “We’ve been very clear that more needs to be done to protect young people online, including from cyber-bullying and suicide and self-harm content, and internet companies do have a responsibility to their users.
“The forthcoming online harms white paper will set out a range of legislative and non-legislative measures to keep UK users safe online.
“In the case of Momo, organisations including the Samaritans, the NSPCC and the Safer Internet Centre have said there is no confirmed evidence the Momo phenomenon is posing a threat to British children.”