After weeks of news coverage about unconfirmed cases and warnings issued by the West Bengal police and the Mumbai police, India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in West Bengal indicated on August 29, 2018, that claims reported in the media about the death of two teens being linked to the Momo Challenge were "far fetched and devoid of any evidence". CBI believed most of the large volume of Momo Challenge invitations in India originate locally as pranks sent to spread panic. A CBI spokesperson stated that "so far, the game has not claimed any victim, nor has anyone approached us saying they have played even the first level of it." [1] [17] [18] [19] [20] The police could not confirm any role the Momo Challenge might have played in the death of a girl in grade 10 who died by suicide after leaving a note expressing discouragement with lower grades or the suicide of an engineering student in Madras. [21] [22] [23] The Odisha Police already issued an advisory asking the media to refrain from publishing unconfirmed reports linking teen death to the Momo Challenge. [24] a b c d Noble, Freya (August 2, 2018). "What is Momo? Terrifying 'challenge' linked to 12-year-old's suicide". 9 News. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018 . Retrieved August 20, 2018. Magid, Larry (September 21, 2018). "Dire warnings about children dying because of apps and games are a form of 'juvenoia' ". Parenting for a Digital Future. Archived from the original on October 8, 2018 . Retrieved October 8, 2018.

After examining the girl’s phone, police are now questioning an 18-year-old the girl allegedly met on social media, local media reports. Radford, Benjamin (February 27, 2019). "The 'Momo Challenge' and the 'Blue Whale Game': Online Suicide Game Conspiracies". Skeptical Inquirer. Archived from the original on February 28, 2019 . Retrieved February 28, 2019.Thibodeau, Jennifer (November 2022). "Wildly different Huluween offerings: Grimcutty and Matriarch". Fansided. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022 . Retrieved December 18, 2022. Nguyen, Em (August 6, 2018). "Warning to local parents about "Momo Suicide Challenge" ". Fox News Illinois. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018 . Retrieved August 20, 2018. a b c Lewis, Sophie (February 28, 2019). "Kim Kardashian warns parents of "Momo challenge," but YouTube says it sees no evidence". CBS News . Retrieved March 4, 2019. Blue Whale and Momo challenge banned in Pakistan". The Tribune. September 2, 2018. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018 . Retrieved September 5, 2018. Momo challenge: what is it, why is it dangerous and what is the advice for parents?". The Week UK . Retrieved February 28, 2019.

Lorenz, Taylor (February 28, 2019). "Momo Is Not Trying to Kill Children". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on March 1, 2019 . Retrieved February 28, 2019. By March, several experts including the Children's Commissioner for England were asking the media and authorities to cease amplifying what increasingly looked like a case of moral panic. Authorities had not confirmed any physical harm resulting from the phenomenon, or even that any sustained exchange of messages took place between the Momo character and anybody. [41] Responding to tabloid coverage which asserted the challenge to be true, the NSPCC, the Samaritans, and the UK Safer Internet Centre declared the Momo Challenge a hoax. [42] [43] [44] A parent who alerted the press to the Momo Challenge subsequently said her child had not received messages from "Momo", but was merely told about it in a school playground conversation. [45] Analysis [ edit ] a b Dunning, Daniel (February 22, 2019). "York school warning over internet Momo character". Minster FM. Archived from the original on February 27, 2019 . Retrieved February 27, 2019.West Bengal Girl Gets Call For New Suicide Game "Momo Challenge" ". Press Trust of India. August 22, 2018. Archived from the original on August 23, 2018 . Retrieved August 23, 2018. Jalpaiguri college girl invited to play virtual suicide game Momo Challenge, files police complaint". Hindustan Times. August 22, 2018. Archived from the original on August 23, 2018 . Retrieved August 23, 2018. On the final day the players were told to kill themselves, resulting in at least 130 deaths across Russia. a b c d O'Malley, Katie (February 27, 2019). "Momo 'challenge' appearing in Peppa Pig YouTube videos, parents are warned". The Independent . Retrieved March 8, 2019. Ghosh, Dwaypayan (August 23, 2018). "Cop alert against Momo Challenge". The Times of India. Archived from the original on August 23, 2018 . Retrieved August 23, 2018.

The WHO recommends that you clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water before putting on a mask. Alexander, Julia (March 1, 2019). "YouTube is demonetizing all videos about Momo". The Verge . Retrieved March 7, 2019. In France, a group at the State Department was reviewing the situation daily in late July 2018. [5] Public warnings were issued in August and September by police forces in countries including Argentina, [3] [4] [6] Germany, [7] Luxembourg, [8] Spain, [9] Canada, [10] [11] [12] Mexico [3] [13] and the United States. [14] The sculpture was initially thought to be created by Japanese artist Midori Hayashi who is known for making bizarre dolls using different animal parts.

de Fournas, Marie (August 20, 2018). "Quels sont les véritables risques qui entourent le "Momo Challenge"?". 20 Minutes (in French) . Retrieved August 20, 2018. a b Rogers, James (August 2, 2018). "Sinister 'Momo suicide challenge' sparks fear as it spreads on WhatsApp". Fox News. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018 . Retrieved August 20, 2018. Dreyfuss, Emily (February 28, 2019). "How not to fall for viral scares". Wired. Archived from the original on March 13, 2019 . Retrieved March 12, 2019.

PROTECT OUR CHILDREN! THE BLUE WHALE AND THE MOMO CHALLENGE EXPOSED!. Nico David. February 27, 2019.NSPCC says no need to be concerned about Momo". BBC. March 1, 2019. Archived from the original on March 2, 2019 . Retrieved March 2, 2019. Gatineau police, experts warn about 'Momo Challenge' ". CBC News. August 20, 2018. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018 . Retrieved August 20, 2018. Odisha Police issues advisory on deadly 'Momo Challenge' game". The Statesman. September 5, 2018. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018 . Retrieved September 5, 2018.