Worried schools decide to take new online game head on

LUDHIANA: Another online game called ‘Momo Challenge’ that has gone viral, just like the Blue Whale Challenge, is now troubling many school authorities, who are trying to find ways to tackle this new social media menace. The challenge had started on Facebook, where people were challenged to talk on an unknown number, and after that, they were given some horrifying challenges that indulged children in a series of violent acts.

The game has gone viral on various social networking platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp. In this challenge, one has to save an unknown number, and after that, face the challenges that come in the form of violent videos and tasks, ending up in suicide.

KVM School principal Navita Puri said: “CBSE has already issued a strict advisory on the ‘Momo Challenge’. Parents need to be more aware and careful about the activities of their kids. There is no need to give smartphones to students, as it is not appropriate for their age to play such kind of games or use social networking apps. Circulars have been sent on school apps, as parents should come to know about such games,” she added.

She further says they would make students and their parents aware about the dangers of the game through different seminars and counselling sessions. “There is a need to keep a check on kids. CBSE has also started conducting various awareness drives in schools and institutions, but without taking any name, as it makes children more curious about the game. There is a chance of high risk that students may harm themselves while playing this violent game,” added the principal.

In the advisory, CBSE has mentioned that the game inspires teenagers/children/any other user to add unknown contacts on WhatsApp by the name of ‘Momo’. Once the contact is added, the image of the terrifying Japanese ‘Momo’ doll with bulging eyes appears on the screen. The game controller than entices the player to perform a series of challenges, and those playing the game are threatened with violent images and videos, that if the player does not follow instructions, he or she may have to pay dearly.

Dr Rajiv Gupta, consultant psychiatrist, spoke to TOI: “Negative people make such kind of games to spread more negativity in society. Parents and teachers must keep a check on children, as these kind of games actually control the mind and influence them to ignore family and friends. Social media is a double-edged weapon, so it is required to be handled properly. If parents feel kids are passing through some problem or frustration, just talk to them and try to find out the root cause of their disturbance.”

Another consultant psychiatrist, Dr Puneet Kathuria, said: “All social media platforms should be filtered by parents according to content. All sites have filters, where parents can actually filter the content. There is a high need for parents to learn how to handle social media, as they can’t shed their responsibilities by saying they don’t know how to use it. They have to learn the pattern to prevent their children from being exposed to such games.”

DAV School principal JS Sidhu said they welcomed the CBSE initiative. She said parents need to be more careful, especially at home, as even though the school has access to wifi, it is in limited premises, and all such activities are checked by teachers.