The Goa State Commission for Protection Child Rights (GSCPCR) on Thursday issued an advisory against an online game named Momo Challenge, cautioning parents and guardians of children across the State via the State Education Department.
The advisory from GSCPCR comes in the wake of an advisory to the State Child Right Commissions across the country from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) urging them to take up the matter in right earnest with various State authorities to generate awareness on child on-line safety.
The NCPCR has, inter alia, stated that MoMo is a social media account on Whatsapp, Facebook and YouTube. Giving detailed information about the game and its potential for breach of safety of children on-line, NCPCR has requested concerned departments, Ministries in Government of India as well to take immediate preventive measures to stop its spread across the country. It further said that the Ministry of Electronics and Information & Technology has issued an advisory on the game.
The advisory by GSCCR issued as part of child on-line safety, said that according to information given to it, children are becoming victims of the said game and are known to attempt suicide. The game is played by children on the mobile. As such, from the child safety point of view, the advisory has urged the State Directorate of Education to take appropriate steps to create awareness among school going children, their parents and guardians and also to take measures to prevent the spread of the said game.
The Momo Challenge is the second such alleged dangerous game with potential for breach of safety for children online after the Blue Whale Challenge, which had sent panic waves across the country forcing police and other agencies to issue advisories and guidelines to parents and guardians to monitor the online activities of children.
