Several Israeli and Jewish schools are urging parents to remove Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) from their children’s phones to protect them from the impact of the Israel-Hamas war. The concern stems from the potential exposure to violent and graphic imagery and videos of the ongoing conflict. The parents’ organization of a Tel Aviv school expressed particular worry about unsettling footage depicting hostages being “begged for their lives” by Hamas gunmen, emphasizing the challenge of restricting such content on social media platforms.
Jewish schools in the United States have also issued similar cautions, even though the source of the information regarding potential hostage footage is unclear. The principal of The Frisch School in New Jersey urgently emailed parents, urging them to remove Instagram and TikTok from their kids’ smartphones.
There has been a significant online warning about the spread of disturbing content related to the Israel-Hamas war. Social networking sites like X and Meta’s Threads real-time messaging service have seen numerous school announcements, alerting students and parents to the likelihood of encountering distressing information on these platforms. Aviva Klompas, co-founder of Boundless Israel, posted an alert on these sites, highlighting the imminent release of hostage videos and advising parents to uninstall TikTok and Instagram from their children’s smartphones.
Journalist Joanna Stern also shared tweets informing about the presence of graphic and misleading information on social networks, citing messages from her Jewish high school and a nearby Jewish Community Center. These messages emphasized Hamas’ intention to flood social platforms with recordings of prisoners, underscoring the need for parents to discuss the risks associated with these applications.
Chat rooms dedicated to Jewish communities have been overwhelmed with chain messages warning people about Hamas’ impending distribution of upsetting content and calling on parents to protect their children from it. One message cautioned that Hamas terrorists would soon be posting photos and videos of hostages and torture on all social media platforms, urging parents to prevent their children from viewing these terrifying and unsuitable materials.
In efforts to combat false information and remove content related to Hamas, social media companies, including X led by Elon Musk, have intensified their moderation efforts during the Israel-Hamas war. X CEO Linda Yaccarino confirmed the deletion of hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts and the correct labeling or removal of thousands of pieces of content related to the terrorist group’s attacks on Israel.
The ongoing conflict has also impacted Israel’s technology sector, with IT companies facing disruptions due to a large number of employees being called up for military duty. Conferences have been rescheduled, potentially affecting fundraising and dealmaking activities. However, tech companies have shown strong support for the war effort by utilizing their expertise in areas like cybersecurity and artificial intelligence to aid soldiers and search teams.
Despite the challenges, the Israeli technology industry remains resilient, supported by overseas investors and assistance from global tech giants like Microsoft and Google. This unity and collaboration in the tech sector highlight the country’s determination to overcome difficulties during this trying period.
In summary, Israeli and Jewish schools are advising parents to remove Instagram, TikTok, and X from their children’s phones due to concerns about the impact of the Israel-Hamas war. Social media platforms have been flooded with warnings of disturbing content, including hostage videos. The tech sector, while facing challenges, continues to support the war effort and innovate, backed by international investors and aid from tech behemoths.
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