TikTok School Violence Threat Keeps Cobb Schools Alert, But No Specific Threats Made

COBB COUNTY, 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 Cobb County, watching for threats to local schools.

A Cobb County School District spokesperson told Patch that Cobb Schools police officers are aware of the threat and while no specific ones have been made against any Cobb campuses, they will be monitoring the situation all day.

It's an early release day for CCSD students, so all students will be dismissed by 1:30 p.m. Friday.

"Cobb Schools Police is aware of the national trend involving fake threats being spread on social media and is on the watch for specific threats to any of our school campuses. If school administration or Cobb Schools Police learn of specific threats, we will alert our parents first," the district spokesperson told Patch in an email. "We also encourage our students, parents, and staff to not distribute or share these posts but instead to report specific concerns through the District’s tip line through call, text, or email.”

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