A new TikTok challenge is threatening US schools with mass shooting: What we know so far
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TikTok's challenges are known to cause mass panic. A new challenge labelled 'National Shoot Up Your School Day' has been trending on the social media platform. The threat, or "challenge", reportedly asks students to commit acts of violence on December 17. In response to this trend, there are now hundreds of other TikTok videos referencing the challenge and warning students to take precautions.
One TikTok user wrote, "Idk if this is true or not but apparently there is a threat on December 17, 2021, schools in America are going to have a school shooting or bombing." Another wrote, "[Once] again idk if this is true but if it is, stay safe. My mom called and told me so I looked it up. ... stay safe America.
TIKTOK REACTS: Tiktok tweeted from its official handle on December 17, "We handle even rumored threats with utmost seriousness, which is why we're working with law enforcement to look into warnings about potential violence at schools even though we have not found evidence of such threats originating or spreading via TikTok."
We handle even rumored threats with utmost seriousness, which is why we're working with law enforcement to look into warnings about potential violence at schools even though we have not found evidence of such threats originating or spreading via TikTok.
— TikTokComms (@TikTokComms) December 16, 2021
POLICE REACTS: Florida's North Port Police Department tweeted on December 17, "Law-enforcement agencies around the country are keeping a close eye on schools in the wake of nationwide generic school threat conversations. The threats circulating on social media claiming that December 17 is a day to do harm at schools. The North Port Police Department is aware of the information. We take all threats, joking or not, seriously."
— North Port Police (@NorthPortPolice) December 16, 2021
The Naugatuck Police Department in Connecticut issued a release on Facebook on December 16 saying, "Due to an uptick in unrelated threats at schools in the region, the Naugatuck Police will be increasing our presence and patrols at Borough Schools in the coming days. While there has been NO threat against Naugatuck Schools, students, or staff, the public can anticipate our presence to increase the community’s sense of safety during the coming school days."
SCHOOLS REACT: The Baltimore County Public Schools Twitter handle dissmissed this threat and deemed it 'not credible'. The school district in charge of all public schools in Baltimore County, Maryland, US, tweeted, "Law enforcement agencies have investigated this threat and determined that it originated in Arizona and is not credible. We want to continue to encourage members of Team BCPS to report suspicious or threatening activities or postings."
(2/3) Law enforcement agencies have investigated this threat and determined that it originated in Arizona and is not credible. We want to continue to encourage members of Team BCPS to report suspicious or threatening activities or postings.
— Baltimore County Public Schools (@BaltCoPS) December 16, 2021
Yet, some schools are making an active effort to increase security and assure parents that they were doing everything to ensure the situation was in control. The deputy superintendent of Wisconsin’s Waukesha School District wrote a letter to students' parents that was obtained by Fox 5 New York. The letter said, "Parents, we are asking you to discuss this with your children. We take all threats seriously and any threats against the school or district will be disciplined to the greatest extent possible, up to and including expulsion from school. If you or your child hears of any specific threat to our district, we ask that you please report it immediately."
Fox 5 New York also reported that the school district of Menomonee released a similar letter that says the district "is monitoring the situation and are taking it seriously". The district also said it has been in contact with the Menomonee Falls Police Department regarding the TikTok threat.
Some school districts have also announced plans to close school buildings on December 17, including Gilroy High School in northern California. Gilroy Police has also said that they found threats on social media to not be credible, but school officials have said that the final exams scheduled for December 17 would be postponed to January out of an 'abundance of caution'.
Schools and entire districts in Missouri, California, Texas and Minnesota have cancelled all classes on December 17, while some other schools have announced they will remain open and will add extra police officers on campus.