There are certain internet urban legends and viral hoaxes that never die, no matter how long it has been since they originated, and sometimes, like in the case of Slenderman, they spill over into real life in horrifying ways.

Thankfully, that wasn't the case with the "Momo Challenge," contrary to popular belief. In 2018, articles and claims that children were being conned into a dangerous online game started circulating, with outlets claiming children were being targeted by WhatsApp users operating under the guise of a character named Momo. They would then try coaxing kids into performing dangerous challenges or even self-harming.

The Momo Challenge is far from the first online rumor of this kind, as there have been many different urban legends regarding life-threatening internet tasks. It's a popular trope in pop culture, too, with even the recent Netflix thriller series The Snow Girl tackling its own version, called "The Soul Game,...