
Parents Urged to Delete Kids’ Social Media Amid Fears of Graphic War Content
By Moveiguide® Contributor
As the war in Israel continues, American and Israeli schools are urging parents to have their kids delete TikTok and Instagram as Hamas, a terrorist organization, is threatening to upload graphic and disturbing videos.
It is common that “videos showing pleas, violence and even killings are a common tactic by terrorist groups that take hostages. Israel says about 150 people are being held hostage, including women, children and the elderly. Hamas has warned that it would execute hostages in response to strikes in Gaza,” Times of Israel wrote.
Forbes reported that one school sent a message to parents: “Dear Parents: We have been notified that soon there will be videos of the hostages begging for their lives. Please delete TikTok from your children’s phones. We cannot allow our children to see them.”
“It’s hard for us, it’s impossible for us, to digest all of the content displayed on various social networks,” the message continued.
A New Jersey private school said, “Local psychologists have reached out to us and informed us that the Israeli government is urging parents to tell their children to delete Instagram and TikTok immediately. We strongly advise our students to do the same as soon as possible…As one Israeli psychologist noted, ‘The videos and testimonies we are currently exposed to are bigger and crueler than our souls can contain.’”
A school in Tel Aviv issued a similar statement to parents: “We cannot allow our kids to watch this stuff. It is also difficult, furthermore—impossible—to contain all this content on social media. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.”
The Hannah Senesh Community Day School in Brooklyn, New York, urged parents to at least limit their children’s social media use.
“While we understand that we cannot fully prevent our students from viewing images that might appear on their phones, we strongly encourage parents to cultivate honest and open communication with your children about this possibility, monitor their social media usage, and discuss how to avoid opening these videos and what to do should they encounter such media. We also ask that parents strongly consider asking their children to delete these apps, at least for the time being,” Nicole Nash, the head of the Hannah Senesh Community Day School, wrote in an email.
Jocelyn Brewer, a psychologist and cyberpsychology consultant, added, “At this time, where there are threats being made to live stream such abhorrent and extreme content, parents are well placed to have sensitive but unambiguous conversations about the issues and be wary of how quickly this content can spread if broadcast, without young people ever going looking for it.”
Continue to pray for Israel and those affected by the violence.
Movieguide® previously reported:
As the world has been devastated by the news of the war in Israel, Sadie Robertson Huff has taken to Instagram to share her thoughts on the situation.
The DUCK DYNASTY star posted a beautiful photo of the Sea of Galilee with a heartfelt caption.
“I took this picture at the Sea of Galilee when I was visiting Israel because I specially remember how peaceful the view was and how peaceful I felt,” she began. “It’s hard to believe that today this beautiful place is at war… I’m devastated by what is happening. Heartbroken for the people and the nation. I don’t have many words, but we are praying intently for everyone there right now. God be with us.”