CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE CALLS ON TIKTOK TO REMOVE DANGEROUS CONTENT AND ACT TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY
Follows alarming recent trend encouraging violence in schools
(Rochester, NY) – Today, Congressman Joe Morelle called on the social media platform TikTok to better moderate dangerous content on its platform. Recent posts on TikTok have warned that schools in Rochester and across the country would face shooting and bomb threats today, December 17—significantly disrupting school activities and even forcing some schools to close for the day.
"Posts spreading on TikTok that incite violence are threatening the safety of educators, students, and families in our community. TikTok has a responsibility to moderate dangerous content—and they're failing," said Congressman Joe Morelle. "This has become an alarming pattern of behavior that cannot continue. I'm calling on TikTok to publicly address this most recent incident and take immediate action to better moderate content on their platform and stop the spread of violence.
At a time when students, teachers, and staff have to contend with the recent growth in dangerous incidents in school, including a school shooting three weeks ago in Michigan where four students were killed, these threats are particularly disturbing and must be taken seriously. Sadly, this is not the first instance of negligence by TikTok resulting in violence. Earlier this year, TikTok was misused to promote harassment and destructive acts within schools, including vandalism and physical assault, known as the ‘Devious Licks' challenge.
This is the second time Rep. Morelle has called upon TikTok to take action addressing the spread of dangerous content on their platform. In response to Morelle's October 2021 letter, TikTok claimed the Devious Licks challenge was a "hoax." This is an unacceptable response that abdicates responsibility to protect public safety. In a letter sent today, Rep. Morelle requests a more substantive response that details their action to address this deeply troubling trend.