8 - Misinformation, Disinformation, and Fact-Checking

Misinformation, Disinformation, and Fact-Checking: The Momo Challenge

In this digital age, misinformation and disinformation spread like wildfire, often blurring the line between truth and fiction. A perfect example of this is the "Momo Challenge" that swept across the internet in the late 2010s. The viral hoax sparked panic among children, parents, and communities worldwide. This incident highlights the harms of misinformation and disinformation, and why fact-checking in the digital landscape is more important than ever. 

As defined by the American Psychological Association, misinformation refers to "false or inaccurate information", while disinformation refers to "false information which is deliberately intended to mislead." Fact-checking, on the other hand, is a method of investigation that verifies information for accuracy. All of these concepts played a role in the spread and eventual debunking of the Momo Challenge. 

Momo's first instance of recognition began in 2016, where the image of the deformed sculpture was posted to a website called Know Your Meme. It wasn't until late 2018 that the Momo Challenge came to life and began terrorizing people across the web. As the tale goes, Momo contacts children on social media and asks them to carry out challenges in secret. These challenges prompted children to commit acts of self-harm, and in some cases, commit suicide (BBC). Panic began spreading worldwide, though it was found that people were not actually harmed if they didn't complete the challenges. 

A video that delves into the Momo Challenge. 

At first, the hoax functioned as misinformation. People, schools, and news outlets began sharing warnings about Momo, believing that they were protecting others. Soon, though, the case transformed into disinformation. Certain websites and content creators began exaggerating details about the challenge as clickbait, and some people manipulated images and video content of Momo to cause hysteria. 

Youtube accounts would include Momo in popular children's content, like Peppa Pig and Fortnite. 

Fact-checkers quickly stepped in. News outlets and fact-checking websites began issuing out articles about the challenge, stating that it was a hoax and that Momo isn't a real threat. Some of these sites include NBC News, Forbes, and STOMP Out Bullying, among others. .Snopes even released an article explaining the origin of Momo, which was a sculpture created by a Japanese special effects company. In addition, YouTube released a statement claiming that they found no evidence of videos containing Momo being promoted on the platform. 

Despite these efforts, the hoax had already done damage, causing widespread fear. Many children and teens across the globe reportedly committed suicide because of the challenge, as revealed by news outlets such as European Parliament and WJTV. The case serves as a striking example of how easily false narratives can spiral out of control. It also demonstrates the role that social media plays in amplifying falsehoods. 

The Momo Challenge highlights the urgent need for media literacy and fact-checking in this digital era. While the threat turned out to be fictional, the panic it caused was very real. In vulnerable populations especially, such as children, it is important to teach them how to discern fact from fabrication. By understanding how misinformation and disinformation operate, and promoting fact-checking practices, society can be better equipped to handle the next viral hoax with clarity and truth.