Warning issued over dangerous video on TikTok
Parents have been issued a warning about a sick video circulating on multiple social media platforms, including TikTok, that is luring children through puppy videos.
While it seems innocuous at first, towards the end the video shows graphic footage of a man taking his own life.
Dozens of Australian schools have emailed parents warning them of the video, which was live-streamed on Facebook and is now making the rounds on TikTok and Instagram.
The video was reportedly made by a man from Mississippi last week, and was first discovered on TikTok on Sunday.
Speaking to Buzzfeed News, a spokesperson for the app said they were investigating the matter.
“We are banning accounts that repeatedly try to upload clips,” spokeswoman Hilary McQuaide told the publication.
“Our systems have been automatically detecting and flagging these clips for violating our policies against content that displays, praises, glorifies, or promotes suicide.”
CEO of Safe on Social Kirra Pendergast told ABC News that these types of videos on the internet was not uncommon.
“It’s like what we called Elsagate — which was when Elsa from Frozen got some full-on treatment with people posting two minutes into a video some obscene things happening to Elsa,” Ms Pendergast said.
“It’s a kind of trolling. They’re luring kids in with videos of kittens and puppies, then it goes to this very, very graphic video.”
Advice for parents and grandparents*:
1. Secure household devices by setting passcodes and restrictions on all devices
2. Supervise children online and monitor the material they are accessing
3. Sit down and have an open conversation with your child about the material they may see online
*Courtesy of Act for Kids