TikTok threat puts Capital Region schools on high alert

Threats of violence in schools is the latest viral trend on the social media platform, TikTok.

Several area districts either closed schools or put them in lockout as a safety precaution on Friday.

Many of those threats are being made on TikTok. However, a threat directed at Oneida Middle School was made on another social media platform – Snapchat. They went on a lockout because of it.

These threats are taken seriously and schools are taking necessary action.

The nationwide TikTok trend called on students to commit acts of violence on Friday. That’s why the Whitehall Central School District went fully remote for Friday.

North Colonie Central School District beefed up their police presence at the school – both as precautions.

However, Averill Park Central School District did receive a threat, and they had no school for all grade levels.

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office arrested 20-year-old Dylan Vandermark on Friday for allegedly breaking into Galway Central School early Friday morning. Investigators say one of the school doors was propped open, and a man believed to be Vandermark was found inside the building. He fled the scene before being arrested later in the day.

However, the sheriff says this is separate from the TikTok trend going on.

Local law enforcement agencies say they don’t know why this is happening. Just like many school districts, they are taking these threats seriously.

Hear what one local sheriff says can happen if you get in trouble for one of these threats, by watching the video of Tessa Bentulan’s story.