Jewish Parents Advised to Delete Social Media due to Hostage Videos
Jewish parents worldwide are being urged to delete social media apps from their children’s devices amid concerns of hostage videos being circulated by terrorist group Hamas.
Terrorist groups frequently employ graphic content, including pleas, violence, and killings, as tactics when holding hostages. Israeli and Jewish schools are advising parents to restrict their children's access to platforms like TikTok and Instagram due to worries about disturbing content originating from Hamas’ attack on Israel, and the kidnap of at least 199 of hostages - many of whom are children.
The alarm was first raised by David Lange, an advocate living in Israel, who shared a school message on X (formerly Twitter). The warning, conveyed in Hebrew through a WhatsApp group, indicated that Hamas might release hostage videos featuring captured Israelis. The message urged parents to remove TikTok from their children's phones. Israel reports that citizens, including women, children, and the elderly, are being held hostage by various groups.
I. Just. Can't. 🥺
— (((David Lange))) (@Israellycool) October 10, 2023
Received from my daughter's school:
Dear Parents,
We have been informed that videos will be sent soon
of our abductees begging for their lives.
Please remove the Tiktok app from the children's mobile phones.
We cannot afford our children to watch this!"
Similar warnings quickly echoed across Jewish schools in the United States and the United Kingdom. The Frisch School in New Jersey and the Hannah Senesh Community Day School in Brooklyn sent out advisories, citing local psychologists who communicated the Israeli government's recommendation to delete Instagram and TikTok immediately. The message emphasizes the urgency of limiting children's social media access.
Some schools specifically highlighted TikTok and Instagram as areas of concern. Amidst the distressing situation, schools in the UK have advocated for open communication between parents and children about the content they encounter online, acknowledging the challenges posed by continuous social media use among students.
Four Jewish schools in north London have made the decision to close temporarily, prioritizing the safety of their students. Torah Vodaas Primary School in Edgware, Ateres Beis Yaakov Primary School in Colindale, and Menorah High School in Neasden have informed parents that they will remain closed until Monday, and a fourth school is also expected to stay closed on Friday. Rabbi Feldman of Torah Vodaas emphasized that this decision was made after careful consideration.
The closure comes amidst concerns for the safety of Jewish students, who have also been advised to disguise their uniforms due to fears of retaliatory attacks related to the ongoing conflict in Israel.
The region has witnessed a surge in violence, ignited by Hamas’ attack on Israel. In response, Jewish charity organisations have observed a significant rise in antisemitic incidents, including assaults, threats, vandalism, and abusive behaviour, with reports indicating a 324% increase over the past four days.