Beware Of 'Momo Challenge' In Kid's Videos, Radnor Police Say

RADNOR TOWNSHIP, PA — Police in Radnor are alerting parents to a disturbing trend on internet videos that target children. Radnor Police are telling parents and guardians to aware of a threat hidden in kids' online videos known at the "Momo Challenge."

According to a news release issued by police, a scary doll figure with an ominous voice is targeting children’s websites such as YouTube Kids. The figure comes on the screen after the seemingly innocent video begins playing.

Then the figure talks about the "Momo Challenge," which attempts to have children commit more and more increasingly disturbing acts, including suicide, according to Radnor police.

The challenge sometimes even includes threats the child’s family if the challenge is not completed and video proof is not uploaded onto the Internet.

Police are reminding parents to be vigilant when children use any online services, and report any such videos found to the online service where they are being hosted.

Here are five things to know about this dangerous social media game:

1. The Momo Challenge is directed at children and young adults. The "challenge" features a frightening avatar who asks the child to perform various tasks, and provide photos as proof. The "Momo" threatens those who do not perform the tasks.

2. The tasks can escalate to serious violent acts, including self harm and suicide. At least three deaths in September were being investigated in connection with the challenge in other countries.

3. In Brick Township, where school officials have warned parents, a student at Warren H. Wolf Elementary shared descriptions of the challenge with first-grade classmates and allegedly had acted on some of the directions from the challenge, the Asbury Park Press reported. In a letter to district parents, Brick Schools Superintendent Gerald 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."

RELATED: 'Momo Challenge' Prompts Social Media Alert From NJ School

4. The origin of the Momo Challenge isn't exactly known and some believe it to be urban legend, The Washington Post reported. "People are claiming what Momo is and what Momo does, but not that many people have actually interacted with the account. Finding screenshots of interactions with Momo is nearly impossible and you’d think there’d be more for such a supposedly widespread thing," ReignBot, a famous YouTuber, is quoted as saying in a recent report by the publication.

5. The challenge has prompted international warnings, including from police departments in India, Mexico and Spain. In the United States, officials in Florida have posted warnings about the game. It has been banned in Pakistan.

A Denver Channel published this report on the Momo Challenge in October. Some of the images and details may be disturbing: