Wauwatosa Parents Cautioned On TikTok School Shooting Rumor

Wauwatosa WI

16 December, 2021

3:18 PM

Description

WAUWATOSA, WI—Wauwatosa parents are being cautioned about an unspecified threat about school shootings — however there is no specific threat to schools in Wauwatosa, according to the Wauwatosa School District. The district became aware of a troubling post that has been shared widely on the social media platform TikTok. The post refers to a threat to school safety "for every school in the USA, even elementary," on Friday, the district said. "The post appears to be part of a national TikTok trend that did not originate in our school district. We have heard reports from other districts that the same post is circulating in their communities. While we do not believe the threat to be credible, we are closely monitoring the situation and taking it seriously," the district said. The district is in contact with police and has requested an increase in police presence on Friday. "This situation serves as a good example of why it is important to avoid sharing posts online that refer to school safety threats. Even if they are not credible threats, this type of content can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for our students, families, and staff," the district said. The district asks families to monitor their children's social media activity and speak with them about appropriate online behavior. "If you become aware of any potential threat posted to social media or anywhere else, please notify a school staff member or trusted adult right away," the district said.