TikTok criticised for showing teens how to produce fake positive Covid tests
Eloise Hill
Content writerThey're using the false positive results to stay home from school ...
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As anyone with a teenager knows, they're notorious for figuring out sneaky ways to stay off school.
There's pretty much nothing you can't find out how to do on TikTok, so it's perhaps unsurprising that some teens are now using the platform to spread the word about another way to cut class ... using lateral flow tests.
Videos of teens using lemon juice, Coca-Cola and other substances to produce false positive Covid results from their tests are circulating on the platform.
Clips using the hashtag #fakecovidtest have racked up 6.5 million views and, considering one positive lateral flow test has the potential to send whole classes home from school, it's no wonder education leaders are speaking out.
General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, Geoff Barton, said:
'We are sure this involves a very small minority of pupils and that for the most part the tests are used correctly.
'However, we would urge parents to ensure that tests are not being misused.
'e would suggest to pupils who are interested in chemical reactions that the best place to learn about them is in chemistry lessons in school.'
According to the website Full Fact, although people have figured out how to break Covid tests using substances that are more acidic than a human throat or nasal swab, this does not 'does not make them inaccurate or unreliable for use in the general population.'
Associate professor in Biomedical Technology at the University of Reading, Dr Alexander Edwards, said:
'If you completely ignore the manufacturer’s instructions or in fact use the test for something completely different, then you shouldn’t really be surprised if you get a silly result.'
TikTok has responded by saying it will 'take down any clips showing misinformation or that could cause 'harm.'
A spokesperson for the platform said:
'Our community guidelines make clear that we remove content which includes misleading information that causes harm, including medical misinformation related to Covid-19, and anti-vaccine disinformation more broadly.
'Since the start of the pandemic, we have worked to provide our community with access to trusted information, and through our partnership with Team Halo, scientists from all over the world have shared how vaccinations are created and tested for safety.'
Making sure that everything is your home is germ-free is a vital part of tackling coronavirus. We like this clever UV sterilising box that will remove germs from phones, keys, toys and other small items that are handled regularly. See more details here at Amazon.
We also like these refillable personalised clip-on plastic bottles that are ideal for travel or for kids taking to school. See more details here at Etsy.
In other coronavirus news, here are the three NEW Covid symptoms families need to be aware of.
Plus, if your child is struggling right now, here's how to support their mental health during the pandemic.
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