An “offensive” TikTok page featuring fake images – including one of a teacher pointing a gun at Dundee school pupils – has been shut down.
The page, which carried the Harris Academy name and badge, attracted hundreds of followers.
Those behind the page then uploaded a series of videos appearing to mock members of staff.
Teacher ‘holding knife and vodka bottle’
In one of them, they edited a gun into the hand of a teacher at the school, which was being pointed in the direction of a group of teenagers.
Another had a fake image of a staff member holding a knife and a vodka bottle.
On Friday morning, Dundee council chiefs branded the material “offensive” and said they were working to get the page removed.
By Friday afternoon it had disappeared from the site.
David Baxter, Dundee secretary of the EIS – which represents teachers – says incidents like this are becoming more common.
He said: “We’ve encouraged our members to contact TikTok in the past about this type of content; the police in some instances as well, if there has been a criminal matter in how they’ve accessed these photos.
“It’s totally unacceptable and we urge staff to get this content removed.
“We’ve definitely seen a rise in these type of cases over the last 18 months across the country, Dundee is not alone.
“Every time there is a technological leap, new platform, you’re almost thinking, ‘what next?’
“While TikTok are generally good at removing this content it doesn’t stop it from happening again.
“Some of these images from school are already out in the public domain and so they’re easily accessible to be used in this fashion.
“User can easily create a new profile, it’s a constant cycle.”
‘Added pressure’ for teachers
Mr Baxter added: “Teachers are professional enough to know there isn’t a right of reply in these incidents, they just get on with it.
“However, there is an added pressure knowing that this is going on, particularly with the sinister twist some of these videos are taking.
“We’re in this profession to make a difference to young people lives, not to be mocked.
“We would encourage staff members to report these matters and urge Dundee City Council to continue to support the school with these incidents.”
Earlier on Friday, a Dundee City Council spokesperson said: “The school is taking steps to have this offensive content removed from the internet.”
A spokeswoman for TikTok confirmed the account had now been removed.
She said: “We are clear that bullying and harassment have no place on TikTok, and we have removed this account for violating our Community Guidelines.
“Anyone can report content in-app, and we also partner with the Professional Online Safety Helpline to provide teachers with an additional way to report content.”
Earlier this year, pupils at schools in Dundee filmed themselves setting off fire alarms as part of a TikTok craze.
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