Across the U.S., School Shooting Threats on TikTok Prompt Closures and More Police
- Officials call them not credible, but classes stop nonetheless
- TikTok says it’s working with law enforcement to assess risks
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A wave of school-shooting threats circulating on TikTok and other social media prompted some U.S. schools to close Friday and others to bolster their police presence.
Generally, the threats don’t name specific schools and local and federal authorities have said many lack credibility. Still, the threats give a date -- Dec. 17 -- leading schools in Michigan, Washington and elsewhere to temporarily keep kids home. Many videos show a text warning of a bombing or shooting on Friday, without schools, districts or even states listed.