#MomoChallenge
Viral hoax about a creepy figure encouraging children to self-harm spread global panic.
Origin & Impact
In summer 2018, warnings about “Momo Challenge” spread across WhatsApp and Facebook—claims that a disturbing bird-woman avatar (actually a Japanese art sculpture by Midori Hayashi) was contacting children, instructing them to complete dangerous tasks culminating in suicide. The hashtag exploded as panicked parents shared warnings, and news outlets amplified the scare.
The problem? It was almost entirely a hoax. No verified cases of Momo-related harm existed, but the moral panic was real. YouTube and WhatsApp issued statements. The hashtag became a case study in how viral fearmongering spreads faster than fact-checking. It echoed the Blue Whale Challenge panic and foreshadowed future misinformation patterns. By early 2019, authorities worldwide confirmed it was mostly adult hysteria, not a genuine threat.
Related Hashtags
#MomoHoax #InternetSafety #UrbanLegend