TikTok School Threat Rumor: Closures and Safety Measures

Nationwide School Threat Rumors Circulate on Social Media

Widespread, vague rumors on TikTok and other social media platforms indicated potential violence at schools throughout the United States on Friday, December 17th. Numerous schools reacted to this trend by temporarily suspending classes. However, several local and at least one federal law enforcement agencies have since indicated that the perceived threat lacks concrete evidence.

Department of Homeland Security Assessment

The Department of Homeland Security acknowledged awareness of the reported threat to schools. Despite this, their investigation has not revealed any “specific, credible threats.” The agency nevertheless advised that communities should maintain a heightened state of awareness.

TikTok's Response to the Viral Rumor

TikTok initially addressed the circulating rumor on Thursday. They stated they were in communication with law enforcement officials and had “not found evidence of such threats originating or spreading via TikTok.” Although the original threat wasn't directly found on the platform, numerous posts expressing fear regarding potential violence on December 17th were prevalent, contributing to the rapid nationwide dissemination of the rumor.

One TikTok post, associated with a relevant hashtag, read, “I luv you guys pls stay safe on dec 17.” The video’s author clarified in the comments that “Ok so for everyone confused there’s shooting [threats] and bombing threats on dec 17 in schools in the usa my school was threatened 2 times.” Other users shared accounts of recent bomb threat incidents at their own schools.

On Friday morning, TikTok reiterated that, in collaboration with the FBI and DHS, they were unable to identify a credible threat that initiated the viral rumors.

Law Enforcement and School District Responses

School districts and law enforcement agencies across the country responded to the rumors. Most urged caution while emphasizing the absence of any specific, verified threats. The Lee County Sheriff in Florida released a TikTok video discouraging “fake threats,” referencing the frequent bomb threats that many U.S. schools experience.

An Illinois police department tweeted on Thursday, “There is no credible information that this threat is in anyway related to any school in the State of Illinois.” They affirmed continued daily patrols of school grounds and encouraged vigilance and reporting of suspicious activity.

School Closures and Precautions

Despite the lack of substantiation, schools in several states, including California, Texas, Minnesota, and Connecticut, opted to close on Friday. Some school districts that remained open implemented precautionary measures, such as instructing students to leave their backpacks at home.

Ongoing monitoring of the situation is being conducted by both local and federal law enforcement agencies nationwide.

Continued vigilance and communication with authorities remain crucial in addressing these types of situations.