Britain’s media, schools and police forces were told on Thursday to stop promoting an online hoax about the so-called Momo challenge, amid fears that unjustified warnings about the supposed phenomenon risked doing more harm than good. The Momo challenge centres on false claims that a mysterious character is using WhatsApp messages to encourage children to kill themselves. Children’s charities suggested the warnings about the supposed threat posed by the Momo challenge, which is represented by an image of a Japanese puppet with bulging eyes, were “fake news” spread by adults. In response, cabinet minister Andrea Leadsom said the government was “extremely concerned” about the Momo challenge but has yet to find any conclusive evidence that children are at risk. On Thursday BBC wiped the entire article and replaced it with a new piece describing the entire Momo challenge claim as a hoax.

Source: The Guardian February 28, 2019 19:25 UTC