The Women and Child Development Ministry has issued an advisory on the deadly online game Momo challenge, asking parents to monitor social media activity of their children to ensure that they are not engaging in the dangerous game.

Noting that the game has become viral on social media platforms, the ministry has asked parents to keep their eyes open. The Ministry also said that parents should not tell their children about the ‘Momo challenge’ unless they have a reason to believe that the child also knows about it.

The Momo challenge consists of a variety of self-harming dares which becomes increasingly risky as the game progresses and it finally ends with a suicide challenge. The Ministry listed signs that might indicate that a child is involved in the game.

The signs include becoming withdrawn from friends and family, persistent low mood, visible marks such as deep cuts or wounds on any part of the body.
It also gave guidelines on ways to protect a child from the game.

The Ministry advised parents to take regular reports from child counsellors. It said the guardians should remain if their is a sudden increase in new phone numbers and email contacts in their device.

The advisory has asked guardians to install a good cyber or mobile parenting software which helps them in monitoring children besides taking help of professionals if there is apprehension that child is at risk.