Momo Challenge & Online Safety
March 1, 2019
Dear KLSD Families,
You may have seen disturbing media reports of an internet phenomenon known as the “momo challenge,” alleged to be appearing on social media, YouTube, etc. Almost as soon as this came to our attention, we also began to hear reports that it might be a hoax, or perhaps a recirculating of old news. There is a link below to a Forbes article that provides a balanced perspective.
Whether it is a hoax or not, this is a good reminder about the importance of ongoing conversations with our children about their online lives. Well aware of the inherent challenge, I’m including links below to reputable sites that provide guidance for such conversations.
Perhaps nothing is more important than continually reminding our children that they are surrounded by caring and trusting adults (both at home and in school) with whom they should never hesitate to share a concern. If they are confused, scared, or just uncertain about something that shows up online, encourage them to seek adult guidance BEFORE doing anything else.
Back to the “momo challenge” for a moment. Our staff have been made aware, so that if students do share concerns, we are ready to follow-up. We will continue to provide internet safety guidance to all students and, as you probably know, the internet at school is filtered in accordance with all appropriate regulations.
I hope this email is helpful to you. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me or to the building principal in your child’s school.
Sincerely,
Andrew Selesnick, Superintendent of Schools
Links: