IGP issues advisory on dangerous online game to all admn heads

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 27

After Blue Whale, another online dangerous game ‘Momo Challenge’ is trending on the social media these days. To prevent anything untoward, the IGP (State Cyber Cell), Mohali, has issued advisory to all deputy commissioners, SSPs and education department officials in the state.

Following this, the Bathinda Deputy Commissioner has forwarded the advisory to the District Education Office and further, the DEO on Tuesday issued it to all educational institutes in the district.

In the advisory, it has stated that it is been reported in the media that there is a new online game Momo Challenge trending on Facebook and Whatsapp, in which members are challenged to communicate with unknown numbers.

The Momo Challenge consists of a variety of self-harming dares, which becomes increasingly risky as the game progresses and it finally ends with a suicide challenge.

The game inspires teenagers/children 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 in contacts.

The game controller than entices the player to perform a series of challenges. The player of the game is threatened with violent images, audios and videos if he does not follow instructions.

In the advisory, they have also stated that if the child is showing symptoms, which include becoming withdrawn from friends and family, persistent low mood and unhappiness, looking worried that stops him/her from carrying day to day tasks, sudden outburst of anger directed at themselves, lost of interest in activities they use to enjoy and visible marks like deep cut or wound on any part of the body, it indicates that the child is addicted to this challenge.

It is also stated for the parents to stop children from taking up this deadly challenge, they should check in with their child and ask him how things are going on, ask if there are things that put him under stress or anything that worries him.

Apart from it, monitor the child’s online and social media activities to ensure they are not engaged in the game.

Teachers have also been advised to educate students for the safe and effective use of internet, deploy digital surveillance system, allow children to access only pre-selected websites appropriate to their age and sensitise parents to the internet safety norms.

“The parents need to counsel children about the dangers of the game and tell them not to indulge in dangerous activities such as taking selfies from rooftops. They should keep a constant watch on their children and prevent them from playing the game,” the advisory said.