Geelong teens urged to stay off TikTok as disturbing viral video circulates
Geelong parents have been urged to keep their kids off TikTok today as a disturbing video is circulated.
Geelong
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GEELONG teenagers have been urged to stay off TikTok as a disturbing video of a suicide death spreads on the platform.
Belmont High School warned parents “a very disturbing video” was circulating social media platforms such as TikTok of a person completing suicide.
“The video has been reported and the service is working to remove it however, as with anything viral the video is being shared rapidly and also hidden in other clips,” Acting Assistant Principal Erin Prendergast wrote.
“We strongly encourage your son or daughter to avoid using the app today as we are aware that it may impact on a lot of young people’s mental health.
“We are also encouraging people who encounter this content to report it to the social media platform they’ve seen it on, or to eSafety at www.esafety.gov.au/report/illegal-harmful-content.”
A coroner is investigating the suicide deaths of five male secondary school students in the Geelong region in the four months to mid-June.
Controversial Chinese social network TikTok was on Tuesday struggling to remove the video of a man taking his own life from its platform, days after the graphic clip was first streamed live on Facebook.
The video is still being shared on the network seven hours after it first appeared.
The graphic video, showing 33-year-old US man taking his own life, was allegedly first streamed live on Facebook on August 31.
Cyber safety expert Susan McLean said parents should take swift action to prevent their children from seeing the disturbing video today.
“There is a video on TikTok of a man live-streaming his suicide,” she said.
“Please ensure you do not allow your older teens on the app today, if they have it.
“Check in with your kids today.
“They most likely will know about it. It is also being hidden behind cat videos as well.”
A TikTok spokeswoman confirmed that “clips of a suicide that had been livestreamed on Facebook” began circulating on its network, and the company was trying to remove it from the platform.
If you or a loved one needs help:
Lifeline 13 11 14
Geelong headspace centre 5222 6690, 1800 650 890
Barwon Health Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol Triage - 1300 094 187
Bellarine Community health 5253 0400
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
Or visit a GP or hospital Emergency Department
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Originally published as Geelong teens urged to stay off TikTok as disturbing viral video circulates