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Anjum Naveed / AP
Schools have warned parents to keep kids offline for 24 hours and heavily monitor all social media interactions until content is removed. (File photo)
Schools across the country are warning parents to keep their children away from devices after a Facebook Live video of an apparent suicide was shared on various social media platforms.
Trolls have reportedly been inserting the gruesome video with videos of puppies and kittens to entice children to watch it.
James Hargest College, in Invercargill, emailed parents Tuesday warning them about graphic content on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
“This warning should be seen by our community, as many students have TikTok and other social platforms,” the email reads.
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They encouraged parents to remove TikTok from their young children’s devices, as it had no security devices to protect vulnerable children.
“We highly recommend keeping children offline today and strictly monitoring all interactions on social media until content is removed.”
Parents were advised to check with the children if they had seen the images, as they would be extremely distressed.
School counselors have been informing each other of the video, said a Christchurch-based high school counselor.
A Southland mother, whose daughter attends the James Hargest College junior campus, said she was horrified to think her daughter might have seen the images had it not been for the school’s prompt action.
MONIQUE FORD / STUFF / Things
Netsafe CEO Martin Cocker has received calls from schools across the country about the images.
“I called the school and they told me that the teachers put all the children’s devices in a box this morning and they weren’t going to return them until the end of the day.
He appreciated the school’s advice to keep kids off the devices for 24 hours.
“It is just terrifying. We are trying to disconnect the data from your phone. I really want to erase [TikTok and Instagram] from your phone … kids are obsessed with it. It is very difficult.”
Netsafe CEO Martin Cocker said he had received calls from schools across the country, as well as various organizations that work with schools, about the content.
“We have had some success removing it from social media platforms, but the content remains on the main site… It is quite difficult to prevent children from viewing any harmful content. The reality is that material like this circulates … From a parent’s perspective, it is important to know that it exists and to recognize that your child may be exposed. “
He did not recommend cutting young people off the devices, but rather monitoring younger children. He encouraged New Zealanders to report any harmful content to Netsafe and they would flag it on social media platforms.
“Since the Christchurch terror attacks, social media platforms have improved by doing what we hoped for: detecting and removing content, but there is still stuff going on.”
US officials fear that China will use the popular video-sharing app for nefarious purposes, but the company denies links to Beijing.
The Executive Director of the Mental Health Foundation, Shaun Robinson, reiterated that people should not view or share the video.
“It puts vulnerable people at extremely high risk of real harm. There is no reason to share it. “
WHERE TO GET HELP:
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1737, do you need to talk? – Toll free or text 1737 to speak with a trained counselor
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Depression.org.nz – 0800 111757 or text message 4202
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Life line – 0800 543 354
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Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828865 (0508 SUPPORT)
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Kidsline – 0800 54 37 54 for people up to 18 years old. Open 24/7.
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Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234, email [email protected], or find online chat and other support options here.
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Rural support trust – 0800 787 254
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Samaritans – 0800 726 666
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What happens – 0800 942 8787 (for young people from 5 to 18 years old). Telephone counseling available Monday through Friday, noon to 11 p.m. M. And weekends, from 3 pm. M. A 11 p. M. Online chat is available from 3 pm to 10 pm every day.
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thelowdown.co.nz – Web chat, email chat or free text 5626
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Anxiety New Zealand – 0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389)
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Supporting families with mental illness – 0800 732 825.
