LPS aware of troubling nationwide TikTok threats

LPS security director: "Right now, it's nothing that we feel has is a credible threat here in Nebraska or any of our schools."

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Rumors of school violence on the social media app, TikTok, have caused a stir in schools across the country.

Some schools in the United States are increasing security in response to TikTok posts circulating online that insinuate that Friday, December 17, will be a day of violence at schools.

Here in Lincoln, LPS security says they are aware of the concerns and working with the Lincoln Police Department to get out in front of the situation.

“Right now, it’s nothing that we feel has is a credible threat here in Nebraska or any of our schools,” LPS director of security Joe Wright said.

There is no indication that any LPS students are involved with this trend, but Wright says any students who threaten school safety will be held accountable.

“People who decide to send messages like this are often subject to being looked at as responsible for a law violation by the police or other law enforcement,” Wright said. “Certainly, if they’re with us, and they cause a school disruption, there are subject to school discipline as well.”

Several TikTok challenges have caused trouble in schools nationwide, including one called the “Slap a Teacher” challenge.

An LPS official tells Channel 8 that TikTok trend they’ve seen in schools was back in September, when students were found to have vandalized school bathrooms at Lincoln Northeast High School, in what was known as the “Devious Licks” challenge.

Wright shared what the school district learned from that saga.

“I think what we learned the most from that was just to double up our prevention efforts to really get out to our families and kids how important it is to use social media responsibly, and that there are true, serious repercussions for sending social media when you shouldn’t, or sending out threats that harm people or scare people,” he said.

On Thursday afternoon, LPS sent out emails to parents informing them of the situation and letting them know how they can report concerns.

“We unfortunately, have to spend a lot of time as do our educators and our administrators in the buildings to spend time on social media threats, rather than on teaching and learning,” Wright said.

LPS officials encourage people to report any school safety concerns to local law enforcement or by using the LPS Safe to Say application.