Bartow School Aware Of TikTok School Violence Threat

CARTERSVILLE, GA — The threat of possible gun violence or bombings in schools across the nation Friday by a so-called "challenge" posted to social media platform TikTok has school districts and law enforcement across the country, including in Bartow County, watching for threats to local schools.

Bartow County Schools Communications Coordinator Alisha Evans said the district has only had one school affected by this, Adairsville Middle School. Principal Tony Stanfill sent the following message to his school community on Thursday as he was receiving quite a few phone calls, Evans said.

"Adairsville Middle School administrators and campus police officers are aware of concerns students have expressed about safety at AMS tomorrow, December 17, 2021," Stanfill wrote on Thursday. "There has been no credible evidence of a threat at AMS. The rumors appear to stem from a TikTok trend, which has caused disruptions to school systems across the country. We continue to take every possible precaution to ensure safety at AMS. If you or your child hears anything unusual or has specific information, please do not hesitate to contact administration or Officer Blackman."

Coming on the heels of the Nov. 30 Michigan school shooting that killed four and injured several others and the ninth anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Friday's Tik Tok "challenge" is one of two monthly challenges on the social media platform targeting schools, according to some news reports.

In September, a challenge called "Devious Licks" encouraged acts of vandalism at schools. To participate in the challenge, students and TikTok users shattered mirrors; stole soap dispensers, fire alarms and football field turf; and clogged toilets, filming the antics to post on TikTok.

The September challenge affected Cobb Schools. In two separate incidents just days apart, antisemitic messages and images were drawn on bathroom walls in Pope and Lassiter high schools, including swastikas and phrases like "Heil Hitler."

TikTok issued a statement Thursday afternoon via Twitter acknowledging TikTok leaders' efforts to get to the bottom of the school violence challenge.

"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 tweet said.

School leaders have responded differently nationwide, from canceling school to downplaying the threat. One school district in the Atlanta region has canceled classes for the day as a precaution.
The Polk County School District canceled school on Friday, WSB reported. "We apologize for the inconvenience but are appreciative of those that have made reports regarding threatening social media posts that are circulating within the last hour," the district tweeted. "We have turned all information over to our law enforcement agencies. Together, we can continue to partner to keep our schools safe."

Atlanta Public Schools, however, had a different tone in addressing the nonspecific threat when questioned about it by Patch.

"Atlanta Public Schools Police and district administrators routinely monitor social media," school spokesman Seth Coleman said Thursday in an email to Patch. "Currently, there have not been any threats made against Atlanta Public Schools."

Fox 5 News reported a more comprehensive message from Atlanta Public Schools.

"The posts appear to be part of a national TikTok trend and did not originate in Atlanta Public Schools," the statement said. "We have heard reports from other districts that the same post is circulating in their schools. While we do not believe the threat to be credible, our Atlanta Public Schools Police Department and other metro-area law enforcement are closely monitoring the situation and taking it seriously."

Related:

• Tik Tok Gun Threat Has Georgia Schools, Police On Alert
• Swastikas Found Inside Pope High School Bathroom
• Swastikas, 'Heil Hitler' Found In Lassiter High School Bathrooms