WhatsApp's Momo has again caused controversy in the last week. Rumors on the Internet pointed out that the character was appearing on YouTube Kids videos featuring cartoonish characters like Peppa Pig to persuade children to commit suicide or injury. YouTube, on the other hand, said on Twitter that no evidence of such content was found on the platform targeting children under 13. The company also noted that any content that promotes harmful or harmful acts prohibited on YouTube, and recommended that users report such content when discovered.
The panic generated by the so-called "Momo return" has left parents and guardians worried about what children consume on the Internet. With that in mind, dnetc has listed some tips for adults to protect their children from Internet activities, especially YouTube and other social networks.
It is worth remembering that the phenomenon "Momo" went viral in 2018 and an alleged evil character attributed to a number from Japan (+81) who would make contact with WhatsApp.
Questions and Answers about the Momo Phenomenon on WhatsApp
WhatsApp Momo, according to users, appears on YouTube Kids videos; the platform denies Photo: Aline Batista / dnetc
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1. Watch out for strangers online
In this case, parental supervision can help to preserve the children. Make sure your child understands that he should not "make friends" with strangers online or add suspicious numbers to his contacts. People on the Internet are not always honest about who they are and what they want. It is also important to limit the time and adjust the hours that coincide with parental supervision. So the old tip of No talk to strangers, still serving on the network.
Instruct minors not to talk to strangers over the Internet Photo: Pond5
2. Enable YouTube Security Settings
Settings such as autoplay should be disabled. To do this, simply open the YouTube app on Android or iPhone (iOS), touch the profile photo (in the upper right corner of the screen) and go to Settings and AutoPlay. On Android, you should check "Off" after touching "Autoplay on Home tab". And on iPhone, just select the "Off" option.
In addition to this option, parental controls can be installed to help prevent children from viewing inappropriate content. If you want to prohibit access to some features of iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to "General" under "Settings" and tap "Restries" to enable it. You will be asked to enter a password to be able to administer the feature at any time.
Auto video playback disabled Photo: Playback / Helito Beggiora
3. Enable restricted mode on YouTube
The YouTube app has a function that blocks inappropriate content for the user. Known as Restricted Mode, the tool applies a content filter to video searches and suggestions. With this, the app prevents any content marked as inappropriate by other users of the site.
The ideal tool to prevent children from accessing videos such as Momo's supposed, for example. To do this, open the "Settings" in the three-point icon in the upper right corner of the screen. In General, on your Android, enable the Restricted mode option. On iPhone, go to Restricted Mode Filter and tap the Restricted option to enable the function.
Enabling YouTube Restricted Mode for iPhone Photo: Playback / Marvin Costa
4. Make use of YouTube security features
Features such as mute, lock and report protect children from many harmful contents. In YouTube Kids, multiple filters help safeguard the content your child watches. Those responsible can block access to magnifying glass and even voice search. After locking, the item will no longer appear in the video list or search results while the user is logged in. If the guardians change their minds, you can unlock the videos in the app settings.
To do so, tap "Lock Video" on the three-dot icon that appears below the video you want to prevent access. Enter the numbers shown on the screen or your custom password and then the video will be automatically locked and no longer available to watch.
Just click the message to block the video. Photo: Playback / Marlia Varoni
5. Never share personal information on the Internet.
Event photos, travel tickets, children's special moments, home addresses are among the information that users often display on the Internet, but should not. Exposing data like this to major social networks can cause dangers in the virtual world and also outside the network. That's because malicious people can pick up details on seemingly innocent posts to commit crimes or incite violence.
dangerous to reveal personal data online Photo: Zngara Lofrano / dnetc
5. Report inappropriate content on YouTube
According to Google, "Video and user reports are reviewed by the YouTube team 24 hours a day, seven days a week" to determine whether or not they violate community guidelines. If violations are found in the site's usage rules, whether serious or repeat, YouTube may consider terminating the user account.
On YouTube Kids, you can make a video report on the three dots that appear in the top right corner of each of them. It is worth noting that your anonymous report, that is, nobody knows your identity by flagging a video on the site. For all options there is a menu where you should provide more details about the video to help the YouTube team analyze the content. In some cases, it is possible to describe the reported scenes in up to 500 characters and tell the exact point of the video at which the abusive images are displayed by the user's movie.
Click Report to end flagging content as inappropriate on YouTube Photo: Playback / Elson de Souza
6. Block improper channels
There are several ways to block a YouTube channel. Options include settings for the streaming service itself and the use of a Google Chrome plugin that blocks videos that are indicated as unwanted by the user. Measurements prevent videos from displaying in the browser, and can also help parents control what kids are watching on YouTube Kids.
First, unsubscribe from the channel, then go to the channel's About tab and select the Report user flag icon. Then press the Lock User option. A by preventing the channel from commenting on your videos. In YouTube Kids, just tap the three dots icon in the top right corner of the screen and select the "Lock" option. Choose Block all channel and fill in the math equation or enter the default password to confirm that you are a legal guardian.
Blocking a channel completely on YouTube Kids Photo: Reproduo / Rodrigo Fernandes
7. Activate the timer on YouTube Kids
The feature, present on iPhone and Android, allows you to enable timer mode so that the application will be locked after a certain period. This way you can better plan children's routines and monitor their access to the app on their mobile phone or tablet.
To do this, on YouTube Kids, tap the lock icon in the bottom right corner of the screen, and then type the password that gives access to the app settings. In the "Timer" option, slide the bar in the center of the screen to increase (right) or decrease (left) the time the app is active. Then press "Start timer".
YouTube Kids App Timer Setting Screen Photo: Playback / Marvin Costa
8. Check navigation history
The experts' top recommendation is to keep your child safe from accessing the Internet to have regular conversations with your child to make them aware of the dangers online, and to agree on which sites are allowed access. It is also important for a minor to know that he can trust an adult if he notices a disturbing attitude while surfing the web. As a guarantee, it is interesting that parents and guardians are aware of everything the child accesses. To do this, just check the browsing history after use.
Firefox Browsing History Photo: Reproduction / Andr Sugai
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