Whether it’s a video on Tiktok or Facebook, there’s a gun violence trend that’s spreading across the nation, and educators are getting very concerned about it. It’s easy for young people to get guns, and it’s becoming a serious concern for educators and the community at large. In fact, it’s one of the reasons that schools are increasing their security measures.
Educators are outraged
Educators are outraged by the tiktok gun violence trend that has caused many schools to close and take heightened security measures. These threats have been made on social media, and have caused local police departments to beef up their presence around schools.
The trend started as a challenge to skip school on December 17, and soon spread to high schools and other youth-aged populations. It has been used to make threats against school staff, posters, and property. It has also been used to promote school violence. The Educator’s School Safety Network tracks these threats, and trains schools on how to respond.
A post on TikTok Friday said, “National Shoot Up Your School Day!” It prompted widespread school closures and took law enforcement on a nationwide alert. A letter to parents was sent from the Scottsdale Unified School District about the challenge. Some schools have taken proactive measures to prevent the challenge from happening, but others have not.
Law enforcement officials were also notified of a possible threat involving a gun on December 17 on a social media site. Authorities were able to find no evidence of the threat being credible. However, a video of the incident was posted on Instagram. The teen who posted the post told detectives that he created the account as a joke.
The Los Angeles Unified School District took the threat seriously, and released a statement on its Twitter page. It warned parents to be aware of the threat, and encouraged them to talk to their kids. It also announced that it was monitoring the situation.
Law enforcement officials in California were also aware of the threat, but they were not aware of any credible threats. The FBI has also been informed of the threats, but they have no credible evidence.
It’s easy for young people to get guns
Despite a growing number of gun-related tragedies, it’s still very easy to get guns. This is especially true for younger kids. They can get guns in a variety of ways. They can purchase them, they can get them stolen, they can get them from other people, or they can get them in their homes or on their hips.
TikTok, a video-sharing app, has made headlines for promoting a gruesome suicide video and has recently been in the news for mishandling children’s privacy. But is the social network really doing a lot to keep its younger users safe?
The site has not been as adamant about enforcing its firearms policies as it could be. The site has a clear policy about displaying firearms in videos, but it hasn’t made a concrete statement about whether it will enforce those policies in a significant manner. Similarly, it hasn’t said if it plans to go beyond that and regulate the content itself. The site also hasn’t put a clear cap on the number of interactions users can have with violent video content.
TikTok’s policies are actually more stringent than many social media platforms. For example, the site’s head of public policy will be testifying to a Senate committee about the social media platform’s role in child safety. However, the company hasn’t yet put a cap on the number of interactions users can have in the most violent video content. This leaves TikTok at risk for promoting problematic clips on its home page.
The site has also gotten into hot water for allegedly shadowbashing users who don’t fit their image. One user who wasn’t at all attractive, for instance, was reportedly shadowbanned, despite the fact that he had a large following.
It’s a reminder not to share posts about school violence
Several school districts across the nation have warned parents to keep a close eye on their children’s social media activity. These warnings came in response to reports of possible threats of school violence made on the social media platform TikTok.
The threats were reportedly made in the form of a “challenge” on the TikTok social media platform. TikTok warns users that postings of violence are not allowed. It also offers the option of suspending accounts that make threats. TikTok also says it is working with law enforcement to investigate potential threats.
Law enforcement agencies have been working with local school districts to monitor potential threats made on TikTok. In response, school officials have issued statements and emails to parents, urging them to keep their children informed about social media safety. The National Education Association (NEA) also called on social media companies to take action against threatening content on social media.
A superintendent for Shawnee Mission Schools said the district has not received any credible threats. However, the superintendent has encouraged parents to talk to their children about what to do if they see threats on social media.
In addition to Shawnee Mission, several local school districts have also issued warnings to parents about the potential threats. The Duval County Public Schools district sent a message to parents on Thursday evening, noting that the county police department is monitoring the situation.
Other school districts in the Capital Region have also been put on heightened alert after news of possible TikTok threats. Schools in Blue Valley, Blue Springs, Gardiner, and Plainfield said they were aware of the TikTok challenge and were in contact with their local law enforcement.
It started with the devious lick challenge
‘Devious Licks’ is a social media trend that has encouraged students to record themselves stealing and vandalizing school property. Schools are urging parents to talk to their children about the risks involved in social media. This trend has also prompted schools to restrict access to bathrooms.
The trend started in North Texas schools and has spread throughout the U.S. Students have been charged in several states for engaging in devious licking. In addition to vandalism, students have been stealing items from schools, including football field turf, hand sanitizer dispensers, fire alarms, and mirrors.
The trend has also led to police and school officials being called in to address the issue. In a recent example, a student pulled a soap dispenser out of a wall near North Stafford High School. He was arrested and charged with a felony.
School districts have also been sending letters to parents warning them of the risks associated with the trend. In addition, school administrators have sent letters to students advising them not to participate in the challenge. They also warned students that if they did participate, they could face criminal charges.
The trend has caused some schools to shut down restrooms for hours at a time. This may exacerbate social anxiety and stress for students. It also puts unnecessary strain on the schools’ health care providers.
In addition, school districts are increasing the number of police officers on campus. Two local school districts, Canyons and Waco ISDs, are dealing with theft and vandalism by students.
In response, TikTok users have responded by intentionally clogging toilets. They have also stolen fire alarms and soap dispensers from schools.
It’s causing need for escalated security measures
Taking a page from the book, many school districts have rolled out the red carpet by canceling classes, enforcing no-smoking policies, and placing extra police officers on the beat. One school district in particular, Ramsey, New Jersey, even sent out a tri-fold pamphlet to parents warning of the TikTok worthy dangers.
There have been a host of other smaller than life incidents, but the most notable one occurred at the hands of a high school freshman, who claimed to have been inspired by a video posted on the social networking site. While the school was not damaged, the student did manage to scuttle out with the school’s laptop, which had been left behind in his bedroom. Thankfully, the teen was promptly identified and arrested. While it may be unlikely the student’s tastless deed will ever see the light of day, the lessons learned are lessons worth carrying forward. Hopefully, the TikTok worthy will be forgotten by the time the dust settles in early January.
The TikTok spokesman also pointed to its mobile app, which has the same high standards of quality, customer service, and etiquette as the brick and mortar facility. The app has been available in the United States since early 2014, and is available in more than 70 countries worldwide. Its latest addition, a “Fun” section, has been added to restock and refresh the popular app’s most popular games.