Some schools in the United States have taken precautionary measures in the wake of a worrisome TikTok threat against children.
On TikTok, there’s an anonymous threat titled “National Shoot Up Your School Day” that appears to advise pupils not to go to school on Friday, December 17.
Though no specific school or district is mentioned, there are hundreds of additional TikTok posts mentioning the challenge and cautioning students to be cautious.
A user on the platform 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.
“[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.”
Another user wrote “I’m scared off my a—, what do I do???”
Despite the worrying posts that have subsequently gone viral, TikTok responded by saying it has not uncovered evidence of the threat. The social media behemoth sent out a tweet;
“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.”
The North Port Police Department in Florida also issued a statement in response to the threat:
“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 Northport Police Department is aware of the information. We take all threats, joking or not, seriously.”
In a statement, the Naugatuck Police Department in Connecticut said that in the “coming days,” they will enhance their presence at schools.
It read; “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.”
Four Oxford High School students were slain in a Michigan school shooting less than three weeks ago, prompting the warnings. Ethan Crumbley, 15, faces many charges as an adult, including terrorism resulting in death and four counts of first-degree murder. He has entered a not guilty plea.
