Headteachers have raised “deep concerns” over a TikTok trend in which teachers and leaders are being impersonated using pictures pulled from the school website.
Some of the videos are “highly insulting” and contain homophobic abuse, according to Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders.
His union is trying to get the videos taken down immediately, but says TikTok has taken no action.
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Mr Barton said: “We are deeply concerned that a number of offensive and defamatory videos have been posted on the TikTok platform targeting members of school staff, including some that make highly insulting and unfounded allegations and contain homophobic abuse.
“Although these posts appear to be in clear contravention of TikTok’s community guidelines it appears that, in the majority of cases, no action has been taken by TikTok to remove them after a complaint has been made.”
According to , some headteachers have contacted the police about the matter.
ASCL is requesting an urgent meeting with TikTok “to discuss how this issue can be prevented from happening again”.
It has also raised the problem with the governments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Mr Barton said: “Material of this nature is deeply upsetting for the school and college staff who are targeted and we strongly urge those responsible for this material to desist immediately.”
He added: “School and college staff have worked tirelessly and in extremely difficult circumstances throughout the course of the pandemic. Imagine how they feel to be the subject of spiteful and nasty videos on a social media platform. Those responsible should show more respect and TikTok should show more care.”
Nick Brook, deputy general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, also expressed concern.
He said: “TikTok and other social-media companies must step-up and take far greater responsibility for the content hosted on their platforms. The racist and homophobic abuse against school staff in some TikTok videos is entirely unacceptable, yet there appears a worrying lack of urgency and priority given to removing inappropriate and distressing posts.”
He added: “If they are unwilling to adequately police content themselves, then we would encourage government to take steps to intervene on behalf of the victims of abusive content. No company should be allowed to profit from the misery of others.”
TikTok and the Department for Education have both been contacted for comment.
