Dear Families,

The internet can be an incredible educational tool. However, it can also be a scary place. Over the past several years, a common trend on social media has been to pose a “challenge” to viewers using a video or a written message. When used for good, these “challenges” carry amazing power, like the awareness and funds raised for ALS research by the Ice Bucket Challenge. Sadly, there are some who pose “challenges” that can be harmful or hurtful to others. These have ranged from eating large amounts of cinnamon to ingesting laundry detergent pods. There are often no actual reports of anyone carrying out these harmful “challenges,” however, they spread like wildfire across the internet, often gaining coverage by the media.

This week, news broadcasts and social media forums have been abuzz regarding an alleged internet “challenge” that has resurfaced. Rumors of the Momo Challenge first started circulating on social media a few years ago and, as with so many things posted online, began circulating again in recent weeks.

Whether or not this, or any of the internet “challenges” are real, does provide an excellent opportunity to encourage open dialogue and remind children of internet safety and best practices:

• Remind children that information shared on social media is not always truthful.

• Children should never engage in conversations with strangers online.

• Set up technology in common spaces and take note if children are switching between screens/closing windows when you are around.

• Use privacy settings.

• Be aware of the sites and apps your children are using and know their usernames and passwords.

• Turn off suggested autoplay on videos to stop children from viewing content they have not selected and you have not approved.

• If appropriate, tell your children that Momo is not real and cannot hurt them.

• Encourage open dialogue with your children around any concerns.

• Remind children to share any concerns they have with a trusted adult.

• Visit National Online Safety, a website that has numerous resources and parent guides regarding online safety.
  
  

I am sharing this, not because I want to perpetuate an internet hoax or to cause alarm and fear among parents and students, but rather to ensure that as a community that we are taking steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students.

Sincerely,

Erin J. MacGregor, Ed.S.

Superintendent

Howell Public Schools