After Blue Whale, Momo challenge goes viral, Govt issues advisory

WCD asks parents to monitor online activities of children

The Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry has issued an advisory on the deadly 'Momo challenge', asking parents to monitor social media activity of their children to ensure that they are not engaging in the "dangerous" game.

Noting that the game has become viral on social media platforms, the ministry has asked parents to "keep their eyes open".

The ministry has also said that they should not tell their children about the 'Momo challenge' unless they have a reason to believe that the child also knows about it.

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 ministry listed signs that might indicate that a child is involved in the game. The signs include becoming withdrawn from friends and family, persistent low mood, visible marks such as deep cuts or wounds on any part of the body.

It also gave guidelines on ways to protect a child from the game.

"Monitor your children's online or social media activity to ensure they are not engaging in this challenge and take regular reports from child counsellors and do not hesitate in seeking professional help," the WCD advisory said.

Also, guardians should remain alert if their is a sudden increase in new phone numbers and email contacts in their device, it said.

The advisory has asked guardians to install a good cyber or mobile parenting software which helps them in monitoring children besides taking help of professionals if there is apprehension that child is at risk.

"Remind your child that you are there and will support them as they face life challenges," the advisory said.

It is alleged that the 'Momo Challenge' has claimed the lives of two persons in Kurseong in West Bengal's Darjeeling district -- Manish Sarki (18) on August 20 and Aditi Goyal (26) the next day.

Police suspect that both of them were into the online game which led them to take the extreme step.

Last year, another cyber game 'Blue Whale' had surfaced which claimed a number of lives.