This week, a dozen young people received PST on their doorstep. They are mainly between 12 and 17 years old. Through encrypted forums such as Discord and Telegram, the children allegedly incited terror and the murder of homosexuals. How did they end up there? Through open social media, says PST. – TikTok is in a special position. It’s like a motorway to encrypted platforms where extreme material is shared, says strategic analyst at PST, Siv Sørensen. She doesn’t think the young people understand what kind of thinking is involved when they go from TikTok to new platforms. The content on TikTok may seem harmless, but when they are directed further onto the closed platforms, the content becomes very rough. Videos of terrorist acts and murders are shared and terrorists are praised. According to Sørensen, the young people’s posts border on hate crime or politically motivated violence. Many of the young PSTs have spoken to have felt outsiders. Photo: ISMAIL BURAK AKKAN / news – Thinks of it as trolling PST says there is no one working to recruit the young people onto new platforms, but that it is Tiktok’s algorithm that makes the young people move on. – Our experience is that very many of the young people think of it as trolling, and perhaps do not understand the seriousness or how the content actually comes close to being punishable in practice. No criminal proceedings have been opened on the threats from the young people. However, PST has wanted to talk to them about the consequences of what some may see as innocent trolling. – What we think the young people do not understand is that if others act on your call to use terror as a method, you are complicit in that action. Clear appeal to parents As part of prevention, PST is now asking parents to keep a closer eye on young people’s media habits. Sørensen says no children under 16 should be on the platform. But if the child is there, she asks the parents to connect. – Are you familiar with what your child is searching for? Do you have a parental lock on your child’s account? Does your child have free access to social media, or do you exercise some parental control? How does PST work? Are you a mum or dad and worried about something? How to monitor the children’s digital activity? On Friday 14 June, PST will answer your questions. Submit your questions already now: Published 13.06.2024, at 21.48
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TikTok draws young people into platforms that celebrate terror – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
