CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A note sent out to Clarksville-Montgomery County families Wednesday evening from the school district and the Sheriff’s Office warns about an increase in school vandalism and assault linked to popular challenges on TikTok.
“Across the nation, schools are observing an increase in concerning student behaviors that are linked to social media, especially the app TikTok,” Anthony Johnson, chief communication officer for CMCSS, said in the note.
According to Johnson, these TikTok challenges have led to an increase in vandalism and theft in local schools and on buses.
“Recently, the district has been made aware of other planned challenges that promote crimes such as assaulting employees, sexual assault, and public nudity,” Johnson said in the note.
“These social media challenges may appear to be harmless or fun to an adolescent, but what parents need to clearly understand is that these thoughtless actions will come with serious consequences,” Montgomery County Sheriff John Fuson said in the note.
“I have heard some say ‘What is the big deal, it’s just a soap dispenser’ or ‘I was just messing around.’ The reality is, the damages left behind to school property and the invasion or violation of another student or staff member’s person can easily lead to thousands in fines and restitution for parents to pay and a felony offense for their child. I encourage parents to pay close attention to what their children are doing and intervene where it is needed,” Fuson continued.
Internet dangers, bullying
On top of the TikTok challenges, the district is also alerting CMCSS families to other digital dangers such as cyberbullying, child exploitation, sharing personal information and offensive content.
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is the leading federal law enforcement agency that investigates crimes involving exploitation of minors,” Nashville HSI Special Agent in Charge Jerry C. Templet Jr. said in the note.
“Our agents continually work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of these crimes and identify and rescue victims,” Special Agent Templet continued.
“While the internet is a great way to interact with friends and family, as well as meet new people, predators know this and actively stalk online meeting places such as chat rooms and social media sites. Education and community awareness regarding the dangers of online activity is extremely important.”
The district also has doubled down on their stance to take threats of violence seriously, and to get law enforcement involved when necessary.
Last week, a threat of violence made on social media against Northeast High School led to an increase in the presence of law enforcement.
“We will be vigilant in finding individuals responsible, and, as Sheriff Fuson has stated, ‘Any and everybody involved will be charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,'” Johnson continued in the note. “School Resource Officers and CMCSS employees work diligently to keep our schools safe, but it takes the entire community working together to provide a secure educational environment.”