People don’t think they just, do what other people do so they can feel gratification for posting a video and getting likes So does it happen if nobody watches your video ? Is the same thing as does a tree fall in a forest if nobody sees it This is the world we live in
Apparently the challenge today is to threaten to shoot up your school. But I'm surprised at the official reaction so far. I see a lot of local news stories (and emails from my own kids' schools) saying they are aware and monitoring for threats, that they are posting extra security -- and one school district even canceled classes. What I'm not seeing is the FBI saying it's an incitement to violence and the originators of the TikTok challenge will be investigated. I'm not seeing anyone threaten to sue TikTok. Even while administrators know it's mostly a non-event, their responsibilities force them to take actions that cost money and put stress on students and staff, but nothing is being done (that I've heard of) to address the offense. Do we need to wait for the Jihad Against the Infidel challenge to get a solution here?
People have killed themselves literally as part of a TikTok challenge. There have been property damages in multiple schools this year due to the 'devious licks' challenges. This is the thing with social media - speed and audience mean that we should consider new laws not just depends on existing laws. It's not that there weren't these challenges in the past, but with social media and platforms such as TikTok, they spread much faster and to many more people. And since now it's known that there is a HIGH-risk someone will act on these social media posts, we should have new laws to discourage these behaviors. Make originator financially and criminally culpable and encourage prosectors to go after them. Charge people in case of vandalism and harm. I also think platform should be financially responsible if they are "pushing" these posts.
I like the challenge where a UFC commentator and comedian dares people to take horse dewormer. I wonder how many people died from that one.
Msybe there is some new law you can make that can improve accountability while respecting free speech rights. But my point in this particular one about encouraging making threats of school shootings is that there are already laws that could probably be applied. And I don't understand why they aren't being applied.
My point is law and prosecutors' discretion operate in the old thinking where incitement of violence like this is "a joke" that no one takes seriously (rightfully). That's wrong thinking because of the scope and speed of how these "joke" moves today, and we have seen evidence of the enactment of them. New laws are needed to meet the new reality.
