A New Jersey Department of Education “Best Practices” School



OFFICE OF COUNSELING SERVICES & ASSESSMENT THE EWING PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Betty Jo Prince, Ext. 2122 900 Parkway Avenue, Ewing NJ 08618

bprince@ Phone 609-538-9800 Fax 609-771-9132

ewing.k12.nj.us

March 4, 2019

Dear Parents/Guardians:

The purpose of this letter is to make you aware of a recent and disturbing social media phenomenon. In order to keep our Ewing children safe, I am providing parents and guardians with useful information and I urge you to monitor your children’s use of social media and surfing the Internet. This disturbing social media development that is targeting and endangering our children and young adults is called the “Momo Challenge”. This can be found on WhatsApp (a free Smartphone messaging application) and on Facebook. This is just one example of dangerous “games” and App’s on social media.

This “Momo Challenge” involves a frightening avatar making contact with a child from an unknown number or name. The child is asked to perform various actions and tasks, including providing photos as proof that they have completed these prescribed tasks and actions. Students as young as first-graders have allegedly acted on some of these dangerous directions from the “Momo Challenge”. One of the first clues for parents to be concerned with is the image of a Japanese statue of a woman with bulging eyes and scary features. Children are given the series of tasks to finally meet the “Momo.”

I encourage you to remind your children to change email and social media passwords frequently and block unknown numbers inviting them to play immediately.

You may learn more about the “Momo Challenge” by visiting the links below: Please be warned that some of the images and stories may be disturbing:

• “Momo Challenge”- A Dangerous Viral Game, Prompts Warnings to Parents



• The “Momo Challenge”: Are Your Children Playing It? What You Need to Know



• What is the “Momo Challenge?” 5 Things to Know About Game



To assist you in considering age appropriateness for children’s use of technology and time spent on social media, I am also providing you with some links that offer advice and assistance:

• 13 Tips for Monitoring Kids' Social Media:

• Safe Search Kids:

• Media Guidelines for Kids of All Ages:

Please notify your child’s principal or school counselor with any questions or concerns regarding this issue. Thank you for taking the time to read this important information.

Sincerely,

[pic]

Betty Jo Prince

Director of Counseling Services and Assessment

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download