Schools across Israel, the UK, and the US are urging parents to eliminate social media apps from their children's devices. This action is in response to looming concerns that Hamas militants might release distressing videos of recently taken hostages on these platforms.
Tel Aviv School Takes Precautionary Measures
A message from a Tel Aviv school's parent's association, shared with CNN, communicated the grim expectation of videos showing hostages "pleading for their lives" to appear on popular platforms, notably TikTok. The association's plea to parents was clear: "We cannot allow our children to view such content. Moreover, controlling this influx of content on social media is practically impossible." They further extended gratitude for their parents' cooperation and understanding.
Hamas has issued warnings about broadcasting hostage executions on social platforms, particularly if Israel initiates any undiscussed actions against Gaza's residents.
The fear extends beyond these videos. There's growing anxiety that terrorists might use social media algorithms to direct such videos specifically towards followers of Jewish or Israeli influencers. This strategy aims at launching psychological warfare on not just Israelis but also Jews and their global supporters.
Recent events have heightened these fears. Last Saturday, Hamas militants stormed the heavily guarded Israel border, abducting around 150 individuals, including Israeli military officers, and transporting them to Gaza. This sudden assault led to the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, as per the Israel Defense Forces, leaving thousands more injured.
Meanwhile, Palestinian health ministry figures state that Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, which commenced last Saturday, have resulted in over 1,055 fatalities, including several children, women, and entire family units. Injuries surpass 5,000 as of the recent Wednesday report.
The ripple effect of these events is evident in the US, where Jewish schools are cautioning parents against sharing or viewing related distressing content. Their appeal extends to the broader community, advising a temporary deletion of social media apps.
The head of a New Jersey-based Jewish school elaborated on this in an email, highlighting the barrage of graphic and often misleading information affecting students' mental health. They emphasized the need for consistent parental discussions about the potential hazards of these platforms.
Social Media Platforms Under Scrutiny
In the UK, similar measures are in place, with a school organizing a safety assembly directing students to delete their social media apps temporarily.
Prominent platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X (previously Twitter) haven't yet commented on their strategies against this influx of graphic content or on the schools' current stance.
However, X did acknowledge an upswing in daily users within the conflict zone. Their escalation teams have "addressed tens of thousands of posts" that violate their content policies, specifically those promoting graphic media, violent narratives, and hateful behavior. X's safety team reassured users of their ongoing surveillance against antisemitic speech and informed them of account removals that attempted to manipulate trending topics.
Misinformation remains a persistent issue. A deceptive post, viewed over 500,000 times, showcased an airplane being shot, sourced from the game Arma 3. Another video claiming to display captured Israeli generals was debunked when it was revealed to actually depict Azerbaijan's detention of separatists.
EU officials have cautioned Elon Musk regarding misinformation spread on X concerning the Israel-Hamas conflict. Simultaneously, the EU informed Meta CEO Zuckerberg about the misinformation surge on its platforms, urging an action plan within 24 hours. Responding on Instagram, Zuckerberg condemned the attacks and emphasized his team's safety in the region.
Read also: Navigating Difficult Conversations: How to Guide Your Child Through War Content on Social Media
