Momo ‘challenge’: YouTube speaks out over claims it is hosting disturbing videos targeting children

'We want to clear something up regarding the Momo Challenge'

YouTube has denied that the "Momo challenge" is being hidden inside of popular videos on the site, as concern spreads over the strange rumour.

In recent days, substantial concern has been raised about the character of "Momo", and the strange image that is said to represent it. The rumours have led to warnings from police and schools, which have suggested the image is being used by hackers who are attacking children, by attempting to talk to them through WhatsApp and encourage them to commit dangerous acts.

But many of the claims and rumours that have reported on are entirely unverified, and there is no reason to believe they are true. The "challenge" has been connected with suicides, for instance, and even supernatural happenings – but all of those reports seem to have sprung up as rumours that have then been reported as authentic by some news sources.

Now YouTube – a site that has been linked with the challenge by reports that references to it were being hidden inside popular videos – has spoken out about attempts to connect it with the challenge.

Rumours had suggested that the Momo image was being hidden inside of apparently innocent videos, including in those dealing with topics popular with children such as Fortnite and Peppa Pig. Those hidden images would then encourage children to investigate the Momo phenomenon, the reports said, with suggestions that it would then lead to children taking part in the so-called "challenge".

But YouTube said it has not had videos promoting that challenge and that any doing so would be removed.

"We want to clear something up regarding the Momo Challenge: We’ve seen no recent evidence of videos promoting the Momo Challenge on YouTube," the company tweeted. "Videos encouraging harmful and dangerous challenges are against our policies."

In a follow-up post, the company encouraged anyone who sees "videos including harmful or dangerous challenges on YouTube" to "flag them to us immediately", using the report tools that are available on every page.

The suggestion that YouTube could become a place to see Momo videos appears to have become self-fulfilling, however. The site is now filled with videos about the supposed character – including explanations of those recent rumours – meaning that it is actually very easy to find or stumble upon YouTube videos involving it.

That effect has also been happening across the internet more generally.

Initial reports had suggested that children could be encouraged to add a "curse number" on WhatsApp, for instance, which would use the Momo image and encourage children to take part in dangerous activities, but there has been no verified instances of that actually happening. Anyone can use the Momo image and add another person as a WhatsApp contact, however, meaning that the ongoing fear about the stories might mean that some people actually are doing so.

Cyber security experts warn parents that though the Momo story may not pose any threat in itself, it is important to keep watch on who children are talking with through chat apps as well as if they are watching any such unsettling YouTube videos.