Momo Challenge: HRD ministry warns states

BENGALURU: The ministry of human resource development (MHRD) has issued an advisory to all state education departments to monitor students’ online activities and take steps to prevent spread of the Momo Challenge craze among students.
In this online game, the game controller entices players on WhatsApp to perform a series of self-harming challenges. If they back out, they are threatened with violent video and audio clips.They will be threatened that their personal information will be made public or harm will be inflicted on their family members unless a succession of tasks is performed. The threats are often accompanied by gory pictures.

The MHRD advisory comes in the wake of increasing searches for the challenge on Google trends and reports that it’s spreading on social media. Karnataka stands 15th among states of India in searches. Mizoram, Sikkim, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh are among the top five. “Blue Whale Challenge had left schools and parents in a tizzy and now, it is Momo Challenge. We’re spreading awareness about such dangerous social media games. But schools can only make students aware. It’s at home where they use cellphones most of the time. Parents need to monitor apps or software installed on children’s phones,” Shashi Kumar, general secretary, Karnataka Associated management of Primary and Secondary Schools (KAMS), said.
KAMS had submitted a memorandum to Shalini Rajneesh, principal secretary, education, seeking a digital use policy for schools, parents and students.
Childline is engaged with 14 schools in Bengaluru to spread awareness. “We’re working with schools and making them aware of Momo Challenge. However, we haven’t got any call about this yet,” said Nagasimha G Rao of Childline Bengaluru.