Hoax or not, monitor kids on internet, schools say
REGINA The Regina Catholic School Division is warning parents to monitor their children’s internet activity in light of the socalled Momo Challenge.
The RCSD has not had reports of its students personally experiencing the Momo Challenge — which many media outlets are warning against, and just as many others are calling a hoax.
“What it has done is reminded parents and schools that we need to look out and teach our kids proper internet safety guidelines,” said RCSD superintendent of education services Dave Magnusson, “and we also need to look at digital citizenship and what it means to be a good user of the internet and social media.”
The Momo threat is that an image of a bird-like woman, with bulging eyes and long black hair, is spliced into child-friendly videos such as Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol, and games like Minecraft. It allegedly talks to the children, encouraging them to self-harm.
The RCMP issued a statement on Friday afternoon that it has had no complaints relating to the Momo Challenge in Saskatchewan.
Alec Couros, a University of Regina professor of education, said the Momo Challenge is very likely a hoax.
“Nowhere across the planet has this been corroborated as a real thing,” said Couros, who specializes
The Momo Challenge meme is an image of a sculpture, called Mother Bird, by Japanese artist Keisuke Aisawa.
The RCMP and RCSD are encouraging parents to monitor their children’s online activity and note any behaviour changes, set up their children’s devices to promote safe web use, and teach their children about reporting online behaviour that makes them uncomfortable — whether to a trusted adult, or anonymously via psstworld.com.
The RCSD suggests some approved YouTube channels for children, including BlippiVideos and the Peppa Pig official channel.
Similarly, Saskatoon Public Schools has provided its students’ families with some general information about safely using the internet.
The idea is “to give parents a few more tools for them to be able to guide their kids and support their kids,” said Magnusson, “because, as we know, from probably two to three years up, kids are on the internet.”
Couros cautioned parents on this point.
“YouTube is not a babysitting device; it’s not a parenting device,” he said.
There hasn’t been any verifiable evidence to say that this is in any way a real threat.