TAMPA, Fla. (FOX 13) – Disturbing children’s videos interrupted with instructions on suicide have a Florida mom fighting to get all of those controversial videos taken down.
Ocala mom and pediatrician Dr. Free Hess writes on her blog, PediMom.com, about a video she says give suicide instructions to children. She found the video earlier this February on the YouTube Kids app, recorded it, and posted the video to her blog.
YouTube has been under scrutiny for over a year for how it monitors content. Licensed child psychologist Nikel Rogers-Wood, Ph.D., of Rice Psychology in Tampa, said the videos prove parents have to be aware.
“So anything that’s not curated by the parent, we cannot just assume they are not going to be viewing things that are 100 percent safe,” said Rogers-Wood.
Rogers-Wood said children might come to parents with questions.
“So, if it’s a clip about self-harm that they were never intended to see but ended up viewing it, you kind of might talk to them about, sometimes, when people are upset, they might try to harm themselves. But that’s not a healthy way to cope with difficult emotions,” Rogers-Wood said.
Psychologists suggest talking openly but in an age-appropriate way. And when children watch any content, sit with them or have a conversation with them about it later.
“What did you see that was really interesting or fun or funny? Anything that you saw that was concerning or worries you or you have questions about it?” said Rogers-Wood about parents talking with their children.
YouTube did take down that self-harm video, but the blog warns about other edited children’s videos. It is just one of the issues YouTube says it is addressing. The video site told media outlets this month it banned 400 accounts for violating guidelines, and a YouTube spokesperson told the Washington Post it also relies on users to flag the content.
Man this world is so sick leave our children alone already Jesus they have enough to deal with in life
Someone hacked childrens videos and some creepy figure appeared giving kids messages to hurt themselves/other kids or commit suicide and if they didnt follow instructions this demonic looking figure was going 2 come kill them. The thing is known as momo i just saw this last night. It hacked peppa pig videos
Nicole Gili This is Mallory’s Army on fb… Mallory’s passed away (took her life) but Mom still trying to educate other Moms
TaiMarie Ruiz-Blackburn
The Momo challenge has been going around since last year maybe even sooner. Talk to your kids so they don’t fall for that crap. Back in the day we had chain letters.
Daniela Poveda children…age 5, 6, etc…. they don’t understand that death is real.
Some don’t. Death is important subject to talk about when they are young.
This guy thinks he’s a comedian. He’s all about likes and shares, etc.
He’s sick
Joe Faronea
Debbie Polidoro
I would like to see this. Does anyone know where or a link?
How about children don’t need to watch YouTube videos?!?.. Just think out loud
Michelle Ann Mikkelson how about my son is 6, does well in school, does his chores, practices guitar, so he is allowed to watch a YouTube video with me for 30 mins a night to wind down after reading a book to me. That creepy thing showed up WHILE I was watching the video with him. So there!
So you reward him with a youtube video? Thats awesome your son is a smart little boy! I am sure there is some better way to wind down?!? So there, you just proved my point. Wether they watch it with a parent or not, my opinion is youtube or the internet is no place for a child to be.
Michelle Ann Mikkelson yes, we all parent differently. I feel technology, including navigating through different apps and sites are important for my son. Technology is here and will stay. I feel he needs to be educated regarding technology. Unfortunately, ppl ruin it with things like Momo
George Miller
Looks like this mom is late.
Call me crazy but I feel that no child should have use of the internet! As a mother of 3, my children were not permitted to use the internet and once teen-agers it was supervised by me. Stop using it as a babysitter and spend some quality time with them. They grow up way to fast
Michelle Ann Mikkelson I agree however they use it for school Google classrooms.
Anthony De Caro
Talia in Tampaaaaa
Kalyn Kress
Evan King