'Slap A Teacher' TikTok Challenge Draws Outrage From CT AG

Good Tuesday morning Connecticut,

The weather looks blah once again, though the good news is that we dry out today but it will be mostly cloudy.

Sun and warmer temperatures return on Wednesday and last through Friday. Right now the weekend looks mostly cloudy and a chance for rain showers on Sunday.

CT AG demands meeting with TikTok CEO

Attorney General William Tong requested that leadership of TikTok come to Connecticut to meet with educators and parents to hear about and discuss the harmful impact the viral app is having on mental and physical safety of young people and educators.

Noting the latest “Slap a Teacher” challenge, as well as the “Devious Licks” viral challenge that resulted in New Britain High School temporarily shutting its doors, Tong requested that the company explain its policies to prevent abuse and misuse of its platform, and commit to reforms to stop the spread of reckless and dangerous content.

“The last thing anyone needs right now is for children to be inundated by targeted social media encouraging lawlessness, self-harm and reckless, dangerous pranks,” Tong states in the letter.

“It should not take a nationwide school vandalism spree for TikTok to act. As many others have noted, the Devious Licks challenge was far from the first viral challenge with harm to the safety and wellbeing of TikTok’s young users. Viral TikTok videos have resulted in youth overdosing on medications, disfiguring their bodies, and engaging in a wide variety of physically dangerous acts. With new reports of the “Slap a Teacher” challenge, it is clear that TikTok is unable to control the spread of harmful content. Simply put, whatever TikTok has been doing to enforce its terms of service has not been working and merits serious review and reform.”

In the letter to TikTok officials, Tong writes, "Educators across Connecticut have reported stolen school property, clogged toilets, and excessive vandalism believed to be associated with the “Devious Licks” challenge. Now, there is new concern that a viral “Slap a Teacher” may be putting educators at risk. Families and educators are already coping with the unprecedented social and emotional fallout of the pandemic. The last thing anyone needs right now is for children to be inundated by targeted social media encouraging lawlessness, self-harm and reckless, dangerous pranks."

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COVID-19 vaccine update for state employees

Gov. Ned Lamont announced that the state continues to make significant progress in compliance with the executive orders requiring either COVID-19 vaccination or weekly testing among executive branch state employees.

As of 5 p.m. on Monday, October 4, 2021:

• More than 23,000 (76%) are fully vaccinated;
• More than 5,000 (17%) will receive weekly testing; and
• About 2,200 (7%) are currently non-compliant.

In a news release, Lamont's office said that the administration continues to expect that most of the remaining non-compliant employees will submit the required documentation to the state by the end of the day today, and that there should be minimal impact to operations as a result.

The governor’s executive orders apply only to the executive branch, where he has jurisdiction. The judicial branch is following a similar process and timeline, and the legislative branch is in the process of developing similar requirements.

Here is a live look at traffic conditions across CT

HARTFORD - Delays. I-84 Eastbound is congested between Exits 46 and 51 (1.7 miles). Reported Tuesday, October 5 at 6:41 am.

BRIDGEPORT - Delays. I-95 Southbound is congested between Exits 19 and 4 (16.4 miles). Reported Tuesday, October 5 at 6:11 am.

THOMPSON - Rt 193 CLOSED between Lambert and Robbins Roads due to a tree and wires down. Reported Monday, October 4 at 1:23 pm.

TRUMBULL - Delays. RT15 Southbound is congested between Exits 52 and 46 (4.8 miles). Reported Tuesday, October 5 at 6:18 am.

WESTPORT - Delays. RT15 Southbound is congested between Exits 41 and 36 (4.6 miles). Reported Tuesday, October 5 at 6:51 am.

STAMFORD - Delays. RT15 Southbound is congested between Exits 36 and 31 (2.4 miles). Reported Tuesday, October 5 at 8:34 am.

FAIRFIELD - Delays. RT15 Southbound is congested between Exits 46 and 41 (6.7 miles). Reported Tuesday, October 5 at 8:37 am.

NEW BRITAIN - Road Work on RT9 Northbound between Exits 26 and 28 (0.4 miles) in effect today until 4:06 pm. The right shoulder is closed. Reported Tuesday, October 5 at 7:06 am.