Irish parents are being warned over a new TikTok trend that is terrifying young children.
It followed a similar warning in the north where a local SDLP councillor in Co Tyrone contacted the social media platform TikTok after receiving complaints about the filter on the app.
The ‘ghost filter’ on the popular app generates an image of a scary creature that appears alongside the user on screen. Some families have jumped on the trend where adults leave the room as the filter is generated, leaving some children screaming in response.
Read More : Tributes paid to Cork woman who died on charity hike in Scotland
Councillor Jason Barr has written to TikTok in order to have the filter removed after speaking with some local families.
“Some people see this as funny but I can assure you it’s not funny when you have a child running out of a room screaming after seeing something like this,” Cllr Barr told Belfast Live.
“Some children have been left petrified by this filter and that’s why I’ve got in touch with the platform about getting it removed.
“This morning I have written to TikTok in relation to the filter which contains a Ghost type figure which is being used to scare children.
“I find it really alarming that people would scare children in this way and leave them screaming in a locked room. This can have lasting effects on them.
“Please do not use this filter to scare your own children. It’s simply not normal and definitely is not funny in any way.”
Videos shared on the social media platform using the #ghostfilter hashtag show hundreds of clips of kids being spooked by the filter.
In a statement provided to Belfast Live, TikTok said it was monitoring videos being posted with the filter and will remove content that violates its guidelines.
“The safety and well-being of our community is our priority which is why we prohibit and remove content that promotes the abuse and bullying of minors.," the spokesperson said.
READ NEXT:
- Tributes pour in for 'gentle and wonderful' man after tragic incident on M11 in Co Wicklow
'Pain in the a***' wife killer moved to new prison to 'reflect on bad behaviour'
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
