PEMBROKE PINES, FLA. (WSVN) - Broward County Public Schools is challenging a violent TikTok trend.
The district organized Pride Day to put a positive spin on a dangerous social media craze.
On Monday, students were encouraged to celebrate school pride and reach out to classmates in need.
7News cameras captured a celebration hosted by the Flanagan Falcons at Charles W. Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines, Monday.
BCPS Interim Superintendent Vickie Cartwright was on hand to explain what students are doing this week.
“We’re putting in activities that will help support positive social-emotional learning, positive student engagement and actively going out and seeking those students who may be feeling isolated or not really sure how to process what they’re feeling at this point in time,” she said.
The TikTok trend the district is trying to deter students away from is one in which students participate in dangerous and criminal activities and post the videos on social media.
Some TikTok challenges encourage students to post videos of school vandalism and even theft.
“We know, unfortunately, recently, there’s a platform called TikTok, and within this platform, it has been really setting children up for failure,” said Cartwright, “so this is an opportunity for us to really get out there and start a new challenge, but in a positive way.”
District officials said the new challenge is all about keeping it legal and productive, creating videos that show and promote positive messages related to students and their schools. Students are asked to use the hashtag #SchoolPrideAndPeace when posting their videos.
Student Arianna Torres attended the challenge kickoff, Monday morning,
“We did friendship bracelets, and then we painted rocks,” she said. “I do think it will have some benefit. I saw a lot of people, once they talked about the hashtag, I saw a whole bunch of people get up and go to the poster that had the hashtag and start making TikTok [videos] and stuff like that and posting.”
Pride Day will kick off Peace Week. Organizers hope the event will start a trend that reinforces a year-round commitment to maintaining a peaceful learning environment.
For Broward County middle and high school students, this isn’t just a challenge; it’s a contest. The creators of winning videos will receive cash prizes.
Student leaders at each school are now in charge of spreading the word.
Winners of the challenge will be announced Dec. 1.
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