FBI investigating TikTok school shooting 'threat'

A parent shows a text she received explaining her child’s school is under the threat of a school shooting on Dec 17, due to the "school shooting challenge" circulating on TikTok. — AFP

The FBI said that it was investigating an apparent school shooting threat on the popular social media platform TikTok as schools across the country sent alerts to parents Friday.

School districts and law enforcement downplayed the credibility of videos discussing a "school shooting challenge" which circulated on TikTok and other media claiming there would be multiple school gun attacks and bombings around the country on Friday.