CONGRESSMAN MORELLE CALLS ON TIKTOK TO REMOVE DANGEROUS CONTENT
Addresses the Devious Licks Challenge endangering local school personnel
(Rochester, NY) – Today, Congressman Joe Morelle took action to address the dangerous TikTok trends affecting local school districts.
"TikTok challenges are posing real threats to the safety of educators in Rochester and beyond," said Congressman Morelle. "Encouraging students to 'slap a teacher' isn't funny—it's assault, and it's illegal. I've written to TikTok and called on them to stop the spread of this dangerous content immediately."
TikTok has been misused to promote behavior and actions that encourage harmful and destructive acts, including vandalism and physical assault, known as the ‘Devious Licks' challenge. In our own community, administrators faced wreckage ranging from stolen soap dispensers to inoperable bathrooms. The failure to control the spread of this dangerous content has placed educators, faculty, staff, and other students at risk. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act limited the liability of internet companies, like TikTok, regarding user-generated content on their platforms. Yet, the law intentionally allows companies to moderate user-generated content themselves. Due to these advantages granted by Congress, TikTok has a responsibility to monitor offensive content.