Safeguarding Update: MOMO

27th Feb 2019

Dear Parents/Carers

It has come to our attention that a number of children have been scared by a new online game/pop-up called MoMo. This has been reported widely in the press too and on Facebook. 

The scary-looking character was originally created by a Japanese special effects company but it has since been used by hackers to scare children, which usually comes in the form of a request from an unknown number via Whatsapp, or as a pop-up on YouTube or Fortnite.

There is more about it in this BBC news item. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-47359623

Several pupils in other schools have reported that their parents/carers have shown them the images in an attempt to educate or warn them of the dangers. However, this has just ended caused panic amongst the children as they have then gone on to share the information with their friends.

Spokespeople for the Police and the NSPCC have said that with the digital world constantly evolving, it can be difficult to keep track of the latest craze. There will always be a new game or app to watch out for and so the advice is to educate children generally on how to stay safe when using the internet and electronic devices, rather than about specific trends. 

Instead of talking about MoMo, police have advised parents/carers to ensure:

that they know what their children can access online (parental and privacy settings are in place and correct)
that their children are supervised/close-by when they access online games
that their children understand the importance of not sharing personal information (including their location) to online 'friends' or anyone they do not know
ensure that their children understand that no-one has the right to make them do anything that they do not want to do
that parental controls are used properly to limit the potential risks that children face every time they go online

A reminder that if you are worried, there are some common signs to watch out for.  Be aware if your children:

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are withdrawn or angry after using the internet or sending text messages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 are concerned or have any questions on how to approach the subject of online safety with your children, you can contact us here at school for advice. 

Alternatively, you can call the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or visit the NSPCC website.

Thank you.

Kind regards,

Mr Barratt - Headteacher