School calls in police... over pupils’ ‘abusive’ TikTok videos
ONLINE videos which target teachers and school pupils with ‘derogatory’ attacks are being investigated by police.
Youngsters at Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School in Dumbarton have been accused of sharing abusive content on social media app TikTok.
A letter from head teacher Christopher Smith, written in partnership with council education chief Laura Mason, was issued to parents and carers warning about the trend last week.
It comes after a BBC investigation found that teachers are being ‘pushed over the edge’ by online harassment.
Scotland’s biggest teaching union, the EIS, said it had received complaints from teachers about similar incidents.
West Dunbartonshire Council yesterday confirmed the warning letter was sent to all schools in the area.
Mr Smith wrote: ‘We are aware of a number of TikTok accounts and videos that have been created that include images of and derogatory comments about our teaching staff and pupils.
‘I am sure you can imagine how upsetting this can be for anyone subjected to this.’
He added: ‘We are currently taking advice from Police Scotland and youth engagement officers within our schools. Action will be taken as appropriate against any pupil found to have been involved in the creation of this content.’
The BBC investigation found posts often feature footage from lessons teachers had put online during lockdown.
It said dozens of staff south of the Border had been targeted and many had been signed off sick with stress. History teacher Tom Rogers was a victim. He said: ‘I think it’s pushing some [staff] over the edge because of everything we’ve been through in the last two years.’
Unions said some teachers have quit after being maliciously accused of sex offending or cheating on their partners. Others had their faces superimposed on pornography.
Meanwhile, in Angus, vandalism that led to toilets being damaged and equipment taken from Monifieth High was attributed to the ‘devious licks’ challenge on the app. The viral trend encourages pupils to steal items and trash their school by clogging toilets with them.
An EIS spokesman said: ‘The EIS will consider all options to protect its members from this unacceptable abuse.’
West Dunbartonshire Council’s education convener, Karen Conaghan, said: ‘Pupils need to know that such behaviour has consequences.’
Dumbarton Labour MSP Jackie Baillie branded the footage ‘completely inappropriate’.
A council spokesman said: ‘Appropriate action will be taken against any pupil found to have been involved in the creation or sharing of videos online without individuals’ consent.’
The UK Government has pledged to bring in laws which will see action taken against social media firms which allow harmful content on their platforms. UK Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said: ‘I am deeply concerned by the issue.’
A TikTok spokesman told the BBC: ‘We regret the distress caused to some teachers as a result of abusive content posted to our platform. We’ve already deployed additional technical measures and guidance and we continue to proactively detect and remove violative content and accounts.’
Police Scotland has been approached for comment.
‘Pushing staff over the edge’