Officials said a group of Pennsylvania middle school students created fake TikTok accounts to impersonate teachers while making inappropriate comments.
According to The New York Times, eighth graders in the Great Valley School District (GVSD) in Chester County made around 20 fake TikTok accounts impersonating teachers. These accounts were filled with pedophilic and homophobic remarks, racist memes, and rumors about sexual hookups between staff members.
District Superintendent Daniel Goffredo expressed his dismay, stating, “I reiterate my disappointment and sadness that our students’ behavior has caused such duress for our staff. Seeing GVSD in such a prominent place in the news for behavior like this is also disheartening.”
A Spanish teacher at Great Valley Middle School, Patrice Motz, found a profile with a real photo of her at the beach with her family. A text in Spanish over the photo read, “Do you like to touch kids?” with the response, “Answer: Sí.” Motz described the experience as “so deflating,” adding, “I can’t believe I still get up and do this every day.”
Goffredo said the district investigated the matter, contacted local police, and tracked down some of the accounts. However, more fake TikTok accounts might still be active, according to Fox Philadelphia.
“Unfortunately, we do know that accounts have been created throughout the summer months. It’s disheartening,” Goffredo said.
The district has taken action against the middle school TikTok attack and some of the implicated students but did not disclose the specifics. Goffredo mentioned that while some behavior warranted discipline, certain actions were protected by the right to free speech and expression.
Vikki Salvatico, head of the local teachers union, emphasized the need to educate students on responsible social media use. “We’re heartbroken because what we do is educate our students. We never want to see anyone make choices that could hurt their reputations,” she said.
The incident has highlighted the challenges schools face in addressing inappropriate behavior online and the importance of teaching students about the responsible use of social media. The Great Valley School District continues to work with authorities to manage the situation and prevent further incidents.
