ALBAWABA—School leaders and officials are worried about a troubling trend on social media that encourages students to take part in organized street fights. Some posts even call for the use of knives and other weapons.
British news reports say that the online activity, which mostly happens on sites like TikTok, encourages what users are calling "school wars." These posts split students into groups based on their schools and tell them to meet in public places to fight.
Police and teachers are especially worried because some of the messages tell people to bring things that could be used as weapons, like knives, scissors, rulers, and compasses. Officials say that even things that are usually safe for school can be dangerous when used during violent events.
Reports say that the trend has affected many parts of London, including Croydon and Bromley, where schools have warned students and parents. Officials say they are sending more police to some areas as a safety measure and are working closely with schools to stop any possible violence.
Teachers say that a lot of the posts seem to be meant to scare people and get attention instead of being well-thought-out plans. However, they still say that the situation should be taken seriously. Even rumors of planned fights can cause panic, fights that don't need to happen, and a higher chance of real violence.
Police have told parents to talk to their kids about how dangerous online trends can be and how carrying weapons or fighting can get them in trouble with the law. They also made it clear that anyone caught with a weapon could face serious criminal charges.
Officials say their main goal is to calm communities and stop things from getting worse, even though investigations are still going on into where the posts came from. Schools are still on high alert, and officials are telling people to report any threatening content they see online.
