The Auschwitz Museum is angry at a TikTok trend in which young people are playing role as victims of the Holocaust – calling it “hurtful and offensive.”
The memorial, located next to the former Nazi death camp in Poland, is based on the so-called point-of-view videos, in which some users sport fake bruises like Star of David bracelets and in the first person talk about dying in the mass genocide.
“The trend of ‘victims’ on TikTok can be hurtful and misleading. Some videos are dangerously close to or already outside the bounds of trivializing history, the Auschwitz Memorial said in a tweet Wednesday. “Some were made not to think of one, but to be part of an online trend. It is very painful. ”
The short #POV clips are mostly aimed at young people, some of whom also wear striped outfits to portray themselves as concentration camp prisoners. Others look distracted as they perform scenes and pretend to be victims of the Holocaust.
But while the Auschwitz Memorial shook the videos, it urged observers not to “attack” or “shame” the teens involved.
“But we must discuss this, not to embarrass and attack young people whose motivation seems very different. It is an educational challenge, ”the statement added. “Educators need to work with young people to present the facts and stories, but also to teach and discuss how they can think in a meaningful and respectful way.”
TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.
Nazi Germany set up the Auschwitz death camp after occupying Poland during World War II. One million Jews were killed in the camp between 1940 and 1945 along with 100,000 non-Jews.
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