Schools are being urged to take immediate steps to prevent students from searching for or accessing graphic content from a recent Perez Hilton TikTok livestream.
A highly distressing livestream involving US blogger Perez Hilton is currently being discussed and shared online. While platforms will be working to remove the original footage and any copies, students may still encounter the content, or actively search for it after hearing about it from friends, social media or the news.
Our safeguarding recommendation to schools is simple: act now to block relevant searches and set up alerts for students attempting to find the content.
Regardless of the filtering or monitoring system your school uses, we recommend:
Video and social media platforms will be working to remove copies of the footage, and filtering providers will also be responding as the content emerges. However, with fast-moving incidents like this, there can be a window where copies, screenshots, reaction content and links continue to circulate.
Taking these additional steps can provide another layer of protection while that happens.
If you use Linewize Filter, you can create a Custom Search Term in the Object Pool and then create a rule that applies to all users.
For this incident, we recommend configuring the rule to both block the search and trigger an alert.
The alert is particularly important from a safeguarding perspective. If a student is actively trying to find highly distressing content, schools may want the opportunity to check in with them, especially given the nature of the footage involved.
We still strongly recommend taking action.
Most enterprise filtering and monitoring platforms provide some way to block or identify specific searches. Check with your provider or IT team to understand what controls are available and consider implementing them as soon as possible.
The goal here isn't about which filtering system a school uses. It's about doing everything we reasonably can to prevent a child from seeing something they can't unsee.
This footage is extremely confronting and may be distressing for children and young people.
If you become aware that a student has viewed it, avoid asking them to describe or replay the content unnecessarily. Follow your school's existing safeguarding and wellbeing procedures and make sure they have access to an appropriate trusted adult or wellbeing professional.
As with any rapidly developing online incident, schools should continue to monitor the situation and review temporary blocks and alerts as interest in the content subsides.
Move quickly: Add trending search terms as soon as they emerge, and review regularly.
Work as a team: Coordinate with teachers and families to ensure a consistent, age-appropriate response.
Focus on wellbeing: Remind students it’s okay to disengage from confronting content and to talk to a trusted adult.
If you’re a Linewize customer: Head to the Bite Size Learning website for a step-by-step video on exactly how to do this.
If you’re exploring options that give your school more control and responsiveness, get in touch with our team at enquiries@linewize.io.