The "Momo Challenge" is a viral urban legend that was rumored to spread through social media and other outlets. It is widely seen to be a hoax and there is no evidence that it actually existed or threatened the safety of kids and teens. The Momo Challenge was mostly based on reports from international tabloids and no legitimate media source or law enforcement agency has provided any evidence that the Momo Challenge actually existed or claimed any victim. The Momo Challenge is a moral panic spreading through new and powerful channels. Here are some key points about the Momo Challenge:

• Origins: The actual origins of the Momo Challenge are unclear, but it reportedly made its rounds in the Spanish-speaking world first, with Mexican authorities claiming that the trend stemmed from a Facebook group. However, the Momo challenge didn’t really pick up steam in the English-speaking world until YouTuber ReignBot made a video devoted to unpacking the phenomenon in July 2018.

• Image: The creepy and unsettling sculpture, which looks like a woman with black stringy hair, bulging eyes, and a bird-like body, was actually created by a Japanese special effects company and displayed as an art piece.

• Challenge: According to lore, the Momo Challenge is a viral game shared on messaging services like WhatsApp that goads young children into violence or even suicide. Images of the devilish bird-lady supposedly pop up with creepy messages and commands that are said to escalate to extreme violence and horror.

• Hoax: The Momo Challenge is little more than an urban legend and a hoax fueled by media reports and parents’ fears about their kids’ online activity. It is not real and there is no leader/moderator sending messages to future suicide victims.

In summary, the Momo Challenge is a hoax and an internet urban legend that was rumored to spread through social media and other outlets. It is widely seen to be a moral panic and there is no evidence that it actually existed or threatened the safety of kids and teens.