"The posts divide schools into red and blue teams and urge children to jump anyone they see from an opposing team. In one seen by The Independent, children are urged to be violent and use compass points to attack each other. Others suggest they will get video game style points given if they punch an opp (opponent) or stain an opp."
"A TikTok spokesperson said it had restricted searches relating to red vs blue and told The Independent the trend is found across many social media platforms. They added the platform's community guidelines do not allow threats, glorifying violence or promoting crimes that could harm people or property."
"Charlie's Promise, a charity founded in memory of 17-year-old Charlie Cosser, who died after was stabbed in the chest three times at a party, warned: While some young people may view this as a game or online challenge, the risks are very real."
A concerning trend has emerged on social media platforms including TikTok and Snapchat where posts divide schools into red and blue teams and encourage pupils to engage in violent confrontations using bladed weapons. The trend presents children as opponents to attack, with some posts offering video game-style points for violence. Multiple accounts promoting this violence have been removed following police intervention. Schools, primarily in London, have notified parents to monitor their children's devices. The trend has spread beyond London to other UK regions including Bristol. Social media platforms have restricted related searches and reiterated their community guidelines prohibiting threats and violence promotion. Knife crime charities have issued warnings, emphasizing that while some view this as a game, the actual risks are severe.
Read at www.independent.co.uk
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