Mother and father have been warned of a 'sinister' Huggy Wuggy character that's leaving kids traumatised. Movies of the 'killer teddy', shared broadly on platforms resembling TikTok and YouTube, characteristic the creepy puppet singing about 'hugging and killing' and telling viewers to 'take their final breath'.
Due to its kids's primarily based identify, parental controls on some units are usually not choosing up character, who is definitely a monster from grownup horror recreation Poppy Playtime. Reviews of schoolchildren mimicking the character in playgrounds first got here to gentle earlier this yr, leading to police issuing a warning over the 'bear-like character with razor sharp enamel', Manchester Night Information experiences.
Now, psychological well being campaigners have additionally spoken out, with Suicide Consciousness and Psychological Well being Initiative (SAMHI) stating: "Mother and father are being urged to not let their kids watch terrifying TikTok and YouTube movies of the killer teddy.
"The bear sings about 'hugging and killing' and asks these watching to 'take their final breath'. Police have issued a warning over the character after some children have been seen recreating the bear's actions on the playground.
"One line says 'I might hug you right here endlessly, til you breathe your final breath collectively'. It continues 'My enamel sharp and prepared, in my grasp, yeah they're lethal'. The blue bear additionally invitations individuals to 'lean in for a spine-breaking embrace'."
Bolton Parish Church C of E Main College is amongst these to difficulty the warning to folks, saying: "College has been made conscious of a brand new potential safeguarding concern involving a personality known as Huggy Wuggy. This character is from a Horror Survival Sport (Poppy Playtime) which is age rated 12 by PEGI. This contains descriptors for Average Violence and Horror from PEGI (age rankings for video games).
"There's additionally quite a lot of associated content material created on TikTok and YouTube that characteristic the sport characters in unsettling eventualities. Considered one of these movies included a tune, Free Hugs, with lyrics “Trigger I might simply hug you right here. Endlessly, endlessly. Until you breathe your final breath.”
It added: "As it is a kid's primarily based identify and character it has appeared to slide via some parental controls on units. Please be vigilant along with your pc/pill settings at dwelling and proceed monitoring your kid's entry when on these units."
St Mary's CE Main College in Rochdale shared an identical warning, alongside an info poster from Nationwide On-line Security about inappropriate content material.
It mentioned: "Creepy characters like Slender Man or Huggy Wuggy. Harmful on-line challenges. Songs or movies that aren’t appropriate for children. When issues like these start trending on-line, it may be tough to stop kids accidently stumbling throughout them – particularly in the event that they use a spread of platforms, like on-line video games, social media, streaming websites or messaging apps. Get the information beneath."
Safer Colleges NI has issued quite a few ideas to assist mother and father cope with the difficulty
- In case your youngster hasn’t talked about Huggy Wuggy or Poppy Playtime, don’t identify it. It's possible you'll pique their curiosity which in flip might result in them looking for the content material for themselves on platforms they may have entry to.
- If you happen to hear a toddler in your care point out Huggy Wuggy, pause and stay calm. It may very well be that they've overheard dialog about in class or on-line, it doesn’t essentially imply they've considered content material or have a full understanding of who Huggy Wuggy is.
- Ask them in regards to the content material they get pleasure from watching on-line, and if something they’ve seen has ever made them or their associates upset or scared.
- If they've seen something upsetting, reassure them that they're protected. It’s essential kids know they'll come and communicate to you with out worry of judgement. If vital, ask them to point out you the video or recreation, and observe applicable reporting procedures if you're involved.
- If you happen to see content material on social media or within the information concerning Huggy Wuggy or Poppy Playtime, suppose earlier than you share it publicly. It might be extra useful to share a reputable article with sensible recommendation privately, e.g. via personal messaging.
- Use our Trusted Grownup Sources to show younger individuals in regards to the significance of in search of assist if one thing worries or upset them.
- In case your youngster is having nightmares or is anxious about one thing they’ve watched, it’s essential to have a dialog about expressing their emotions. You should use our feelings journal to assist your youngster categorical complicated feelings.
- Learn our On-line Security Evaluation of Poppy Playtime to study extra in regards to the recreation and obtain our Security Briefing.
- Seek advice from our On-line Challenges article for extra info on responding to challenges.
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