'Momo Challenge' Prompts Social Media Alert From Brick Schools

BRICK, NJ — Brick Township school officials are urging parents to monitor their children's social media after parents raised concerns after first-graders were discussing a dangerous social media phenomenon called the "Momo Challenge."

Brick Schools Superintendent Gerald Dalton said the issue was brought to the district's attention by parents of students at Warren H. Wolf Elementary School after a student was told about the challenge by older children.

RELATED: What Is The Momo Challenge? 5 Things To Know About Dangerous Game

The Momo Challenge can be found on Facebook or through the free smartphone messaging application WhatsApp, and is directed at children and young adults. The "challenge" involves a frightening avatar contacting the child from an unknown phone number or name and then asking the child to perform various actions and tasks, and providing photos as proof, and the "Momo" threatening those who do not perform the tasks. The tasks escalate to serious violent acts including suicide. At least three deaths in September were being investigated in connection with the challenge in other countries, the Washington Post reported.

Brick Township parents told the Asbury Park Press that a student at Warren H. Wolf Elementary had shared descriptions of the challenge with first-grade classmates and allegedly had acted on some of the directions from the challenge.

In a letter to district parents, Dalton said the Momo Challenge "is just one example of dangerous 'games' through social media that has a negative impact on students and their social interactions."

"The Brick Township Public Schools counselors and administrative teams will continue to provide students and parents with information to address this most recent social media and internet concern," the letter said. "Please contact the counselors or administrative team of your student’s school, or go to WeTip.com on the district website with any concerns regarding this topic or any other social media/internet concerns."

Dalton said the challenge adults — both parents and educators — have is keeping up with the ever-changing landscape of the internet and the various social media applications, games and activities, because the older generation did not grow up with the plethora of technology available to children now.

In the letter, Dalton encouraged parents and families to "consider age appropriateness for children’s use of technology, time spent on social media and overall reminders of family expectations for making good choices using their conscience."

The district, in cooperation with the township police department and the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, will offer a program on social media and internet issues in 2019, Dalton said.

The Denver Channel published this report on the Momo Challenge in October. Please be warned that some of the images and stories may be disturbing.

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