Education Minister Kenson Casimir has issued an urgent appeal to parents and guardians following reports that a sexually suggestive TikTok trend, known as the “Cut Trend,” has made its way into local schools, with videos reportedly featuring students in school uniform.
The minister stressed that while schools and authorities play a role in protecting children, responsibility for monitoring online activity must begin at home, particularly in an era where social media platforms are easily accessible to young users.
“You must be monitoring what your children are doing. I’ve seen so many videos, and I’ve been wondering why is that child is already on TikTok? I’ve asked those questions. But then again, it’s about supervision,” Casimir said.
He made it clear that such supervision cannot be outsourced to the state or educators once children leave the school compound.
“The supervision cannot be that of the minister. It cannot be that of the teacher when the child is at home. It has to be that of the parent, the guardian, or other individuals tasked with that responsibility,” Casimir stated.
The education minister encouraged parents to take a more hands-on approach with their children’s devices, including phones and tablets.
“I would encourage people to pay more attention to what children do on their tablets, on their phones. You have every right to pull it from them, not just as a form of punishment, but to really get a gauge for what they are doing,” he said.
Casimir acknowledged that social media plays a complex role in modern society, particularly for young people.
“I think at the end of the day, social media is a gift and a curse,” he explained. “A gift in the sense that if you use it properly, you can advance yourself quicker as an individual who is using it than an individual who is not using it.”
However, he emphasised the importance of balance and clear guidance. According to Casimir, parents and institutions must actively demonstrate that harmful behaviour online will not be tolerated.
“The key here is the balanced approach and showing that cyberbullying is something that you have all the legislation for and showing that it’s something that you discourage as a parent, as a teacher, as an institution,” he said.
At the same time, the minister pointed out that social media can be a positive tool when used responsibly. “You can connect with the right people on social media, you can use social media to learn things,” he added.
The ministry’s warning comes amid growing concern about children’s exposure to inappropriate online trends, with officials urging families to take immediate and active steps to safeguard minors in the digital space.