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Erin Bury
Momo: The terrifying new cyber trend that targets kids!
There is a new type of cyber bullying that will send a chill down your spine. Here's how to protect your kids.
When designer Eric Knudsen created a character called Slender Man for a forum titled Create A Paranormal Image in 2009, he had no idea it would become the driving force behind two 12-year-old girls from the US attempting to murder a classmate.
In 2016 a game known as Blue Whale was posted on Russian social media networks, the game challenged users to complete a disturbing task each day for 50 days, becoming increasingly dangerous each day and introducing elements of self-harm. The final 'challenge' required the participant to commit suicide.
More recently, a profile under the name Momo was created on the messaging app WhatsApp. The startling photo of a Japanese sculpture piqued the curiosity of users who contacted the profile. Those people were reportedly met with a barrage of abuse and threats to expose private data unless they filmed themselves carrying out dangerous challenges.
In 2017 it was reported that there was an alarming rise in self produced child abuse material online in Australia, children clearly unaware of the full impact of these images.These online 'characters' have given cyber bullies a new medium to target vulnerable teenagers by posing as these creations online, spawning endless copycats.
Fueling the myths are in-depth backstories, forums and secret websites which can seem enticing to teenagers who are struggling with issues offline.The fictional backstory of Slender Man was so intriguing that it became a part of popular culture and a movie under the same name has recently been released.Googling the character brings up thousands of results. In 2014 two 12-year-old friends, Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser, who were both diagnosed with severe mental illness, blurred the line between reality and fantasy and carried out a vicious attack on a classmate. They told authorities Slender Man had told them to do it.Geyser stabbed a fellow 12-year-old classmate 19 times, while Weier watched on. The victim would survive after crawling to safety and both girls are serving lengthy sentences in psychiatric institutions.
Teenagers can be particularly susceptible to these online trends as Jocelyn Brewer, a psychologist who specialises in the psychology of technology explains."The nature of adolescence is developing your own identify and exploring your increasing levels of independence, being a part of something and belonging is strong pull for young people -- so these mysterious and alluring worlds offer that," Brewer told ten daily.The interpretations of these online creations depend heavily on the reader and storyteller, and due to the speed of viral trends, it only encourages various fabrications to gain momentum on social media.The Momo profile gained popularity in Argentina, where it's believed a copycat of the original profile is linked to the suicide of a 12-year-old girl.
How to report Cyber-Bullying
Statistics say that one in five Australian children aged 8 to 17yrs have been the target of cyber-bullying in the last year. Most social media networks have rules banning cyber-bullying and have complaints tools for reporting.
Firstly, take screenshots so you have evidence.
Then report and block the bully on whatever social media app is being used. Some social media sites can take up to 48hrs to remove the reported post but you MUST report through these channels before reporting to to The Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner.
Report it to The Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner by filling in the online complaints form at esafety.gov.au if the site does not act in 48hrs.
If the bullying is threatening someone’s life or involves child pornography immediately contact your local police station.
Everything you post on social media impacts your personal brand. How do you want to be known?
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