Pupils target teachers in ‘vile’ Tiktok videos
TEACHERS in schools across Wales say they have been targeted in “vile” Tiktok videos containing pornographic and other offensive images and unfounded allegations of sexual misconduct.
Fake school Tiktok accounts have been set up by pupils, former pupils and others to spread the slurs, which include false claims that staff are paedophiles and homophobic, headteachers said. Other videos include teachers’ heads superimposed on pornographic images.
Schools are demanding the social media giant takes action to remove the posts, some of which have also been reported to police.
At least one pupil has been suspended this week after staff managed to identify them as posting an offensive video on Tiktok this week. Other pupils are understood to have also been suspended in relation to posts.
One headteacher said she has spent the past few days firefighting to get videos removed, but as soon as some go, other accounts are set up, some fake accounts under names of schools.
“There is pornography, swear words and a picture of a teacher calling him a paedophile. I asked for that to be removed but it hasn’t been. I have reported the matter to Dyfed Powys Police,” said the headteacher, who asked not to be identified for fear of making the problem worse for her personally.
“We are absolutely devastated. We have staff in fear thinking they will be the next to be targeted in an offensive video. It’s like sticking your finger in a dam. It has added another level of anxiety.”
One school said a Year 12 pupil has been temporarily excluded after posting an offensive video about a teacher.
“It’s a minority of pupils doing this and most of our pupils take a dim view of it, but it is causing a lot of anxiety and altering what were good relationships,” one school leader said.
Merthyr Council posted a statement last night warning pupils they could be excluded and face police action if they “filmed and uploaded inappropriate material involving school staff and pupils whilst on school premises”.
Ceredigion Council, one of the areas affected, said: “Unfortunately, there have been very recent instances of offensive Tiktok content relating to schools and individual staff members.
“We are contacting the police to ensure that pupils and their parents are aware of the consequences of such unacceptable content and that children over the age of 10 are of the age of criminal responsibility.
“However, content is often posted from fake or alias accounts. Offensive content has been reported to Tiktok as a platform.”
A spokesperson for Conwy Council said: “A letter has been sent to parents and carers of secondary pupils asking them to remind pupils that it’s not appropriate to film videos at school.”
The Tiktok app, popular among young people, allows users to create and share videos which they can add images and lip-syncing to.
A Tiktok spokesman said: “At Tiktok, we take all reports of hate speech or bullying and harassment extremely seriously. Our community guidelines make clear that we do not tolerate content that contains bullying or harassment, statements targeting an individual, or hateful speech or behaviour, and we remove content that violates these guidelines.”
Schools and teachers affected said they did not want to be named for fear it would stoke an already volatile situation, but the Association of School and College Leaders Cymru said it has had reports from a large number of schools and teachers across Wales.
ASCL has written to Tiktok demanding “immediate steps”, with schools across England and Northern Ireland also targeted.
ASCL Cymru has written to the Welsh Government, local education authorities and the Children’s Commissioner for Wales alerting them to the problem.
Heads said there was a lack of guidance about what teachers and schools should do if they are targeted on social media and are seeking support from local education authorities.
Eithne Hughes, director of ASCL Cymru, said members are angry and distressed.
“A number of members have reported to us offensive and defamatory posts on the social media platform Tiktok targeting members of school staff.
“This includes material making highly insulting and unfounded allegations and homophobic abuse.
“Although these posts appear to be in clear contravention of Tiktok’s community guidelines, we are informed that in the majority of cases, no action has been taken by Tiktok to remove these posts after a complaint has been made.
“We have written to the general manager of Tiktok in the UK seeking an assurance that Tiktok will take immediate steps to prevent posts of this nature appearing on the platform, that it will respond to any complaints by removing material immediately, and requesting an urgent meeting to discuss how this issue can be prevented from happening again.
“Having raised this directly with Welsh Government yesterday, they have agreed to write to add their voice to our concerns.
“I am also in contact with the Welsh Government Digital Division over this matter. I have also raised this with the Children’s Commissioner and they too are very supportive.”
ASCL Cymru has written to members advising them that if they or their staff are targeted they should report the matter to Tiktok quoting the relevant community guidelines that have been breached by the post.
“If comments fall into the category of hate speech or they are abusive and threatening, you may want to consider informing the police and speaking to your school or college’s legal advisers. If it is possible to identify the perpetrators, then school behaviour policies should be followed,” the advice adds.
Reporting matters to the police should be “a last resort for issues involving children”, says Children’s Commissioner Professor Sally Holland.
Prof Holland urged schools and parents to try to talk to children about what social media they use.
She added: “This is clearly an upsetting and unsettling issue for schools, and I really empathise with teachers and pupils who might have been affected by this.
“I would really encourage parents to take an active interest in their children’s online activities – which apps they use, what they do on those apps, what the current trends are. “This might sound daunting, but really I think it’s about long-term habits of open, nonjudgemental conversations, leading to more honest information-sharing. This should help parents to spot issues early and to share relevant information with schools.
“For schools, I think giving young people the opportunity to have open and safe conversations about what they see and do online is really important as well. There are also resources available for educators covering a range of online platforms.
“Following the concerns raised with us by the ASCL, we’ll be taking time next week to promote some of the most relevant resources to schools, and parents.
“Every school in Wales also has a link to a police liaison officer. Whilst I would see contact with the police as a last resort for issues involving children, the police liaison service would be able to work in an informative and educational way with young people, making sure that they fully reflect on behaviours and learn from them. This is not an issue that any of us want to see in schools.”
Tiktok, the police, the Welsh Government and local education authorities were approached for comment.
We are absolutely devastated. We have staff in fear thinking they will be the next to be targeted in an offensive video. It’s like sticking your finger in a dam. It has added another level of anxiety Headteacher