Kiichiro Sato / AP
The TikTok app logo appears in Tokyo on Sept. 28, 2020.
Friday, Dec. 17, 2021 | 2:36 p.m.
CARSON CITY — All schools in Carson City, Nevada closed on Friday due to fears of violence associated with a “School Shooting Challenge” going viral on the social media platform TikTok.
Schools throughout the United States are also responding to vague threats circulating on TikTok, with some closing and others increasing police presence. The threats come months after other TikTok challenges that dared students to slap teachers or vandalize property, including in three Carson City schools.
“Seeing increased and continued alleged threats of violence at schools locally and across the country shared on social media, primarily TikTok, the district has decided to play it safe and begin the two-week scheduled winter break a day early,” Carson City School District Superintendent Richard Stokes said in a statement.
The 7,600-student district was scheduled to start its winter break on Monday but decided to close Friday after a threatening TikTok post referenced bullying and the prospect of a school shooting on Dec. 17.
Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong told the Nevada Appeal on Friday that law enforcement had found no credible threats after interviewing students and teachers and investigating the social media posts.
In the Las Vegas area, school police officers arrested a juvenile following threat investigations at Cashman Middle School.
