A trio of elementary schools in upstate New York banned Halloween costumes inspired by the sinister Netflix hit show Squid Game.
In a note to parents, the schools noted that teachers have noticed students talking about the show and playing games that mimic some of the show’s disturbing concepts at recess.
“The school message [is] that games associated with violent behavior are not appropriate for recess,” Craig Tice, superintendent of the Fayetteville-Manlius school, on the outskirts of Syracuse, wrote in a statement.
Because the show “is intended for mature audiences due to the violence depicted in the show … it would be inappropriate for any student to wear a Halloween costume from this show because of the potential violent messages aligned with the costume”, Tice wrote.
The popular showpopularity has inspired many Halloween costumes this year.
Early research has shown that costumes from Squid Game are already becoming one of the most posted costumes on Instagram this year. Vans, a shoe company that makes white slip-ons similar to ones seen in the show, has reported a small bump in revenue as more people are buying white sneakers.
Other schools have reported children playing out versions of the show at school. Administrators of a school in Panama City, Florida, said on Facebook that they are “seeing kids trying to actually hurt each other”.
The school told the Wall Street Journal the warning had appeared to have an effect.
Common Sense Media, a non-profit that promotes safe media for children, said the show is appropriate for children aged 16 and older, but warns parents “the level of violence is very intense” in the show.
