For an evening update, sign up for the Evening Briefing. 6:39 AM EDT, Mon May 08, 2023. Most importantly, the mental anguish, fear and anxiety for students, families and school staff that is caused when you have these threats of violence against their own school or schools in general. There are posts circulating on TikTok raising awareness about the threats and encouraging students to stay home on Dec. 17. This trend affected millions upon millions of people that day. CHICAGO (WLS) -- A threat of shootings and bombings at every school in the United States is circulating on social media, and Chicago area police and school officials are responding. Nearly 200 School Districts Are Suing Social Media Platforms - Yahoo News The National Association of School Psychologists recommends parents make time to reassure children they're safe, and talk to them about school violence in a developmentally appropriate way. According to theWashington Post, these types of threats seem to spike in the aftermath of school shootings. We're going to carry this on. A small number of districts in many states still closed schools as a precaution. Iowa schools, parents respond to nationwide social media threats, I WILL HAVE A LOOK AT YOUR WEEKEND FORECAST COMING UP. "These closures and this danger has a real, tangible impact on young people's mental health and well-being. If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. In December 2021, schools across the nation received school shooting threats and bomb threats that originated on TikTok and spread across other platforms, aBloomberg news reportstated. Instead, they aided and abetted the shootings by providing the shooters with audiences. However, the use of bots instead of humans to screen these reports causes the platforms to incorrectly allow the content to remain. Rachel Racusen, a spokeswoman for Snapchat, another platform mentioned in the reports, said in an email that the company was closely monitoring for any threats made on social media platforms. TikTok debunked the threats as rumorsin a Twitter thread this week, adding thatthe Federal Bureau of Investigations looked into it. She received two letters about the TikTok threats from school Thursday, including an edit in the second saying parents shouldn't be alarmed. ADec. 1 school shooting in Michigan, where a sophomore at Oxford High School killedfour students and wounded seven other people, has left nerves jangled especially because school staff had alarming evidence something was amiss and kept the alleged shooter in class. Iowa schools are responding to nationwide, anonymous social media threats that are being shared on social media outlets. The algorithm allows blatantly racist content, including advocating white supremacy, to be displayed. We will continue to update this story as we receive more information regarding each threat. Williams didn't know how to explain what was happening to her 6-year-old son. Like schools across the country, we ensured that no threats existed, stepped up law enforcement presence and were hyper-vigilant throughout the day. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Unfortunately, this is an issue across social media platforms, not just Facebook. Trends have obviously been around throughout our existence and essentially consist of something becoming popular and the movement of large groups toward this new idea. District staff, the Cobb Police Department, and the Cobb County School District Police Department, immediately launched an investigation that is ongoing. This is not a game or contest for more likes or followers school threats and threats to school staff are criminal, he said. Much of the activity appears to stem from items circulating on social media. "Nearly 200 school districts so far have joined the litigation against the parent companies of Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube," reports The Wall . Hepreviously worked at The New York Post's PageSix.com and Essence magazine. BEAU, TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS THREAT. Schools across Massachusetts are planning to take precautions on Friday in light of a troubling post that's been shared on social media threatening violence at every school across the country. METRO AREA SCHOOLS SENT ON A JOINT STATEMENT SAYING, AND PA RT, " AT THIS TIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS NOT ACQUIRED ANY EVIDENCE THAT WOULD DEEM THESE THREATS AS CREDIBLE IN OUR AREA. The police there also deemed the threat not credible. RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Schools nationwide including dozens in the Triangle increased police presence Friday after a social media threat. School Threat - ABC7 Los Angeles Some closed or switched to virtual learning on the dates in question, while others kept school in session under lockdown. The police in Frisco, Tx., said in a statement on Friday that they had arrested seven students, including some in middle school, in connection with a series of threats across the Frisco Independent School District that forced a high school to cancel classes for part of the week. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. For an evening update, sign up for the Evening Briefing. With their existing technology, social media platforms could prevent some school shootings via the following means: These measures could prevent school shootings as well as other forms of violence. No reports or posts have included Barrington 220 schools specifically.As a precautionary measure and to reassure students and staff, in addition to our School Resource Officer, we will have added police support over the next several days as part of our standard response procedures. At Gray, our journalists report, write, edit and produce the news content that informs the communities we serve. But four of the countrys largest school districts Chicago, Miami, New York City and Los Angeles stayed open. We know that adolescents yearn for a sense of belonging, and these challenges tapped directly into that need. We cant keep putting students, parents and our communities through this. According to letters sent from a partnership of school districts, the general threat toward all U.S. schools" declares Dec. 17 as "American School Shooting Day. "If you see something, say something" is a phrase that we share with our students often. Once again, the trend creates the sense that everyone is doing this and if youre not, you are on the outside looking in. Russia claims it has thwarted a "terrorist attack" by Ukraine on Moscow, as pictures show drone damage. School Shootings with Warnings on Social Media. The actual threat was made to a school in another jurisdiction. In Los Angeles, officials said they were taking the warnings seriously, and in Miami-Dade County, officials said they were carefully monitoring the rumors and that there would be more police at schools in response. The social media threat circulating online said there would be a shooting at the campuses, but the district said that after Lamar CISD police and local authorities investigated, it wasn't deemed a . Social Media Threat at Mass. Schools? FBI Boston Finds Nothing Credible Senator sounds alarm on algorithms and its impact on children. Generally speaking, the types of cases we handle involve serious mental health effects, including attempted or completed suicide, eating disorders, inpatient mental health treatment, or sexual trafficking/exploitation that was caused by or contributed to through addictive or problematic social media use by teens and young adults. School shooting, bomb threat on TikTok warning of December 17 attacks Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. However, they have found no credible threats to our Frenship campuses. The other local schools released similar statements, claiming no valid threats have been detected. Twitter Has Undeniably Gotten Better Under Elon Musk, Israel Protests ExplainedWhy Millions Fear Nation Is Becoming Dictatorship, Ron DeSantis Falls to Third Place in Key 2024 State: Poll, Republicans Want to Give Americans an Extra $4,500 for Having Kids. New requirements coming in 2024 for Americans traveling to Europe, Chicago Weather: More humid with scattered storms Tuesday, 2 hospitalized after grill fire at Kane County home. How? The sad piece here is that these school systems had to resort to suing the social media companies to get them to stop, she said. Meanwhile, you can now submit a question on the conflict for our military analysts or team . Plaintiffs' lawyers are . They say there is no credible threat in the area.SOUTH HAMPTON THREATIn Jewell, South Hamilton Community School District Superintendent Heather Holm on Friday morning told parents through an email that a student made a social media post about bringing a gun to school.Holm told parents that students immediately reported the incident to school administrators. Very simple," said Tom Gadowski of the Park Ridge Police Department. In and around Boston, some districts did not send alerts about the threats Thursday, because they didn't want to raise alarms around something deemed not credible. Itheightened emotional, economic and physical stress. In Jewell, South Hamilton Community School District Superintendent Heather Holm on Friday morning told parents through an email that a student made a social media post about bringing a gun to school. Then comes Dec. 17 and with it, a new, vague Tik Tok challenge titled National Shoot Up Your School Day. When I first saw this, I felt disgust and disappointment toward Tik Tok itself. SMVLC seeks to get social media companies to elevate consumer safety to the forefront of their economic analysis and design safer platforms that protect users from foreseeable harm. Schools Sue Social Media Giants Over Student Mental Health Crisis. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. That means engaging inactivities or processes that calm you down, relax youor connect you to others in meaningful ways. Police say. This advertisement is not intended as a testimonial, endorsement or dramatization, and does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter, either express or implied. The Des Plaines Police and the Park Ridge Police departments are both aware of these nonspecific national messages being circulated. In a letter to parents Friday, the principal of Lithia Springs High School in Douglas County says that they became aware of a threat toward the school a student "initiated" on social media. Their Investigative Unit was able to obtain identifying information from Facebook (Meta) and the student was arrested. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. All Rights Reserved. There was a similar wave of closures and increased police presence at schools in late October, after districts reported seeing vague threats on Snapchat and TikTok. FBI's Boston office said Thursday that agents weren't aware of any credible threats to schools in the Bay State, though they encourage residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. These children are being charged with felonies and beginning their adult lives in prison or with a record. There is a great deal of content posted on Tik Tok, most of it harmless. I talked to many parents and students, reassured them that everyone was safe and the day concluded without incident. According to the FBI, threatening a school on social media is a federal crime, which could carry a penalty of up to five years in prison, and state charges may apply. Between Aug. 1 and Nov. 30, at least104 incidents on school groundskilled 20 people and wounded 79, according to advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety. For an evening update, sign up for the Evening Briefing. On Friday, law enforcement agencies around the country appeared to be increasing their presence at schools in direct response to the social media rumors. On Friday morning, the company reported it still had not found content that promoted violence in schools only videos discussing the rumor. ANONYMOUS POSTS ARE DECLARING TODAY AS AMERICAN SCHOOL SHOOTING DAY, BUT DOES T NONAME A SPECIFIC SCHOOL OR DISTRICT. Our highest priority continues to be the safety of our students and the security of our campus.". But asked to describe its effect on people their age, the result flipped: 24% said mostly positive and 32% mostly negative. Ben Collins, Maine South PrincipalDr. "And now we're telling them, 'Also, you can't even feel safe here anymore.' "I appreciate the police trying to calm people, but it doesn't make me feel any better," said Rachel Jalloway. In Gilroy, Ca., school administrators canceled classes at Gilroy High School, though the local police department said the threat against the school was not credible. Several Conn. schools increase police presence due to non-credible Lamar High School threat: HISD campus and 2 schools in Lamar In fact, multiple suburban police department agree that there is not any substantial evidence to support the threat. Have a wonderful break!Sincerely,Dr. Copyright 2023 Social Media Victims Law Center. One impulsive post that takes 10 seconds to make can destroy a young persons future, regardless of the individuals age. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. In our area and across the country, schools were forced to close for the day because students, caught up in the challenge, made threats of violence toward schools. In light of this, it is vitally important for parents to talk to their children about the consequences of saying anything on social media that could be construed as a threat against a school. "Having hope for kids and for families and for all of us is going to be so critical.". But the process usually isnt straightforward. Students thought, If I can break this or steal this, videotape it and post it, Ill be cool and popular, too. October followed with a trend to slap a teacher. Thankfully, we didnt have any incidents of this type in our district, but all across the country students were being disciplined for this type of behavior. "The Iowa Department of Public Safety has been investigating. Other schools within the area are also monitoring the various threatening posts. In another challenge, TikTokers were encouraged to slap their teachers. But officials have little choice but to respond in some form, he said. The American Federation of Teachers issued a report with several other organizations, warning that tech companies should rein in their apps before Congress forces them to do so. Out of an abundance of caution those schools closed their doors to students and worked in cooperation with law enforcement to investigate every threat. Weingarten said she wishes the lawsuits werent necessary. Adopting a screening system that would remove illegal and violent content, including threats, without displaying itthis must apply to private messaging apps as wellto prevent: Extremist groups from networking and coordinating violent attacks, Alerting the authorities when illegal content is detected or when user activities raise red flags. A complete school investigation and any resulting school disciplinary action in alignment with our policies on threats of violence will be taken as well, Holm wrote.NORWALK RESPONSEIn Norwalk, parents are joining students and district employees at the school Friday to have an extra eye on the kids' safety. had alarming evidence something was amiss, still had not found content that promoted violence. The Barrington Police Department has confirmed that these threats are unsubstantiated at this time and there is no viable threat to students or staff. For example, the school shooter at Sante Fe High School in Texas had a Facebook page with images of a custom T-Shirt that said Born to Kill and a black jacket that contained symbols related to Nazism, communism, and fascism. Instead, if you or your child see something resembling a threat, the most impactful step to take is to report it to your school immediately so that we can investigate the situation as soon as possible. It is time for these platforms to start prioritizing public safety over profits. VENTURA (CBSLA) Four students in Ventura and Oxnard faces charges Monday of making criminal threats of violence to a school campus. Mike Pressler, Maine East PrincipalDr. An AACPS official told Patch that. NYC Department of Education Chancellor Meisha Porter addressed the issue of social media challenges in an email to families on Friday, saying that rumors of potential bomb threats or shooting . A 14-year-old New Brunswick High School student was charged this week after allegedly threatening to shoot up the . Out an abundance of caution, the high school was put on a delayed opening and safety measures have been put in place. Virtually every mainstream social media app also provides users with the ability to report content that violates its terms of service, including violent content. Schools hit with fake shooting threats across US; FBI - USA TODAY Students throughout the country have used social media to threaten public schools, resulting in school closures, lockdowns, and other disruptions. TikTok school threat: Districts cancel class, increase security - USA TODAY Join. Security was heightened after vague warnings of threats circulated on TikTok and other social media platforms, police and school officials said. This comes after multiple recent instances of school threats. They even mentioned what music the shooter would play. Is it a crime to threaten a school on social media? At this time, the origins of this threat are unknown.". I dont think authorities can be blamed for overreacting, because we dont know until later than it is even overreacting rather than being preventive., Derrick Bryson Taylor is a general assignment reporter. in the Los Angeles area, about 300 miles away. Glastonbury High School will have increased police presence Friday morning after police became aware of a school threat on social media referring to "GHS." Glastonbury police said the online . Closing schools for every threat also rewards perpetrators with attention or a desired school closure. Just over three weeks ago, a teenager opened fire at Oxford High School in Michigan on Nov. 30, shooting 11 people and killing four students. They could also display posts that promote positivity and equality. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images In Virginia, a 17-year-old was arrested on Wednesday after he posted a threatening message on social media. 2023 FOX Television Stations, Man accused headbutting girlfriend, making off with their kids is still on the run, 58-year-old inmate dies at DeKalb County Jail's intake, Car break-ins prompt call for action to beef up apartment security in Atlanta, Suspect charged in Gretchen Harringtons 1975 murder in Delaware County, Tragic end to Kennesaw SWAT situation: Man found deceased after standoff with police. Today, McEacherns campus does have a larger than usual police presence and teaching and learning is continuing as it normally does. R.J. Webber, assistant superintendent with the Novi Community School District in Michigan, said social media has led to an explosion of threats that come at lightning speed for districts to investigate. Several social media threats circulated. Mathieu Deflem, a professor of sociology at the University of South Carolina, said, the emotional and financial costs of responding to threats, credible or not, can be tremendous.. ". But parents also debated whether that decision was right, said Bello, the mom in Needham. The school shooter atOxford High Schoolin Michigan made multiple threats over social media before the shooting and posted a direct threat on his Twitter bio. At least nine schools outside New York City were also targeted, including a school in Long Beach, California. Virginia School District Sought to Spend $200,000 to Monitor 'Social December 10, 2021 0 4793 Guyer High School There is an increased police presence at southern Denton County middle and high schools on Friday morning as police departments and school. COWETA COUNTY, Ga. - An East Coweta High School student has been identified as a suspect in school shooting threat investigation, according to the Coweta County Sheriff's Office. School shooting threat circulates on social media, causing multiple Suspicious activity should be reported to police, the department said. Michigan school shooting suspect Ethan Crumbley made threats on social media days before he fatally shot four students, according to a new lawsuit filed Thursday against the school. Police have been . Frenship ISD officials stated they are aware of the threats targeting many schools across New Mexico and the South Plains. The Iowa Department of Public Safety has been investigating. ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD Anne Arundel County Public Schools knows about the social media threats made this week against educational facilities nationwide. School officials are asking anyone with any information to contact the police immediately. The report is the first of its kind from the federation, though it has been outspoken about social medias impact on children, supporting an unsuccessful shareholder resolution at Metas annual meeting last year. I am hopeful that Friday, Dec. 17, will be a turning point. School shooting, bomb threat of December 17th attacks circulates on Generally, the. They said yes. East Coweta High School student accused of making threats on social media A few weeks later, an image circulated online supposedly listing devious licks challenges for the following months. Several Oklahoma City metro area school districts respond to threat We really tried to come up with things that they could do immediately, said Weingarten, a top ally of the Biden White House. Por favor evite compartir videos inflamatorios que aparezcan sospechosos o preocupantes en las redes sociales.Les recordamos que estn atentos, y si usted o su hijo ven algo sospechoso o que pueda parecer como una amenaza, informe a su escuela o el departamento de polica inmediatamente para que podamos investigar la situacin lo ms rpido posible. We're the lockdown generation. Not available in all states. Facebook is so ineffective at policing violent content on its platform that the graphic video of the racially motivated Buffalo, New York, mass shooting, which was livestreamed by the shooter, has made its way onto the platform and continued to spread despite users reporting it. Law enforcement will also be at the school today. Mays surgeon general advisory struck a somewhat balanced note, saying that social media had both positive and negative effects and that more research was needed. While a date was specified, many of the threats did not name a school. School district says social media shooting threat 'not credible' TikTok threat of school violence is vague and non-credible but has December 13, 2021 / 12:10 PM / KCAL News. People embrace as they pay their respects at a memorial. For instance, a credible threat oftenpictures a weapon or a caption that's threatening or intimidating. Should any safety concerns arise, they will be investigated immediately and thoroughly following CPS protocol to ensure the safety and security of our students and staff.Safety is a collective responsibility, and I would like to emphasize the importance of using social media responsibly. More about Derrick Bryson Taylor, Maria Cramer is a breaking news reporter on the Express Desk. Some posts warned against students attending class, but none named specific schools or districts. This could incentivize other attention-seeking individuals to threaten the schools. Ailen Arreaza, executive director of ParentsTogether, a family advocacy nonprofit group, said parents, students and teachers cant address the problems of social media by themselves. In Florida, school administrators in the Citrus County School District warned parents about the national TikTok trend that threatened gun violence on December 17. AnEdWeek Research Center surveyfound that the prevalence of student threats of violence has risen markedly in school districts where student learning was remote or hybrid, with 51 percent of principals and leaders reporting such threats after students returned to in-person learning, an increase from 30 percent prior to the pandemic. This means that we are paid a portion of any recovery obtained in the case and you do not owe us any attorneys fees if the lawsuit does not result in a recovery. Dear Barrington 220 Community,Barrington 220 has been made aware of a national threat circulating on TikTok regarding gun violence in schools. Officials also stated that any students caught making potentially violent threats on social media or causing a disturbance while at school will face potential charges. Plainview South Elementary has placed armed security outside its school after threats were made over an alleged sexual assault of a six-year-old girl. BOTH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAY THOSE THREATS AND THE ONE TODAY ARE NON-CREDIBLE. Schools across the country responded in different ways to these threats. Our attorneys at the Social Media Victims Law Center are committed to helping victims of social media violence hold these companies accountable in our pursuit of change. School districts partnered together including Adel DeSoto. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. "These types of threats and social media trends are very disturbing and in no way amusing,"National Education Association President Becky Pringlesaid Friday in a statement. She worries abouther children's anxiety and comfort at school moving forward. Iowa schools, parents respond to nationwide social media threats Frisco, Texas, police on Friday arrested seven middle schoolers for social media threats. One reason it was so invaluable we had Matt in our lives is I was so completely distraught over what was happening that it was wonderful to know that someone in the background was making certain that things were being taking care of. ERIC: A NATIONWIDE SCHOOL THREAT ON TIKTOK IS BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY RIGHT NOW.
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