Awareness drive on ‘Momo’ app, other eerie games urged

Re-electionist Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay on Thursday urged the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Department of Education (DepEd) to consider holding dialogues with Filipino parents to raise awareness among families about the existence of dangerous online games that could be detrimental to their children.

Binay made the call as authorities warned the public of the “Momo” app – an eerie game which is played on WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, and other online platforms – and encourages children to harm themselves and encourages suicide.

“Alarming lalo na sa akin kasi meron akong twins, 10 years old sila at nag ga-gadget. It’s time for parents like us na tingnan kasi pare pareho tayong nangangapa how we will raise our kids in a time of technology,” Binay said in a Kapihan sa Senado forum.

“Siguro maganda may seminar or program ang DICT, DSWD, at DepEd (tungkol dito),” Binay said.

But as a parent, Binay said her number one appeal is for parents to check what their children are searching in the Internet.

“As a parent, number one tingnan natin kung ano sini-search ng mga anak natin sa gadgets. Huwag na ishare (kung hindi maganda) para di na maging viral,” she said.

The DICT, she said, should also be proactive in identifying these disturbing online sites and coordinate with them or with authorities so that any offensive online material would be taken down immediately.

“On the part of government, tingnan ng DICT kung may kakayahan na tanggalin, coordinate with Facebook or YouTube kung kayang i-takedown yung video kung saan mang site ang pinanggalingan,” she said.

While it would be best to prohibit children from using gadgets, Binay acknowledged it might be difficult to do these days.

“Babantayan na lang. Let’s face it, baka magka-withdrawal symptoms,” she said.

“Pero sa amin naman, may allotted time lang na pwede gamitin ang gadget. Advantage na kambal (ang anak) kasi they play with each other,” she added.