Police and Schools Issue Urgent Warning Over 'School Wars' Social Media Trend
Police forces and educational institutions across the United Kingdom have issued an urgent joint warning to parents regarding a dangerous new social media trend known as "school wars." This alarming phenomenon, which has rapidly spread across platforms including TikTok and Snapchat, appears to incite children and teenagers to engage in violent confrontations, with some posts explicitly encouraging the carrying and use of weapons.
How the 'Red vs Blue' Trend Operates
The trend, often labelled "red vs blue" or "London wars," involves social media posts that arbitrarily divide schools into competing red and blue teams. These posts then encourage pupils to physically attack students from opposing teams, with some content explicitly urging participants to "be violent" and use weapons such as knives or even compass points to harm others. Disturbingly, some graphics circulating online frame this violence in a gamified context, suggesting participants could earn video game-style "points" for actions like punching or "staining" an opponent.
Schools, particularly in London and Bristol, have taken immediate action. Multiple institutions have written formal letters to parents, urging heightened vigilance. One west London school, in correspondence seen by The Independent, described the craze as a cause of "serious concern" and implored parents to actively check their children's smartphones to help maintain school safety.
Law Enforcement Response and Account Removal
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed they are fully aware of the circulating posts and are maintaining "close contact" with schools across the capital. Commander Neerav Patel stated that officers will maintain a strong, visible presence around schools and will "respond firmly" to any reports of violence or disorder. He emphasised the severe real-world consequences for young people, warning that involvement could lead to arrest, charge, conviction, and imprisonment, with long-term impacts on future opportunities.
Proactive measures have already been taken online. Following police contact, at least a dozen social media accounts that were encouraging or threatening violence as part of this trend have been removed from platforms. A TikTok spokesperson confirmed the platform has restricted searches related to "red vs blue" and noted that this trend is not isolated to their service, appearing across multiple social media platforms. They reiterated that TikTok's community guidelines strictly prohibit threats, the glorification of violence, or the promotion of criminal activities that could cause harm.
National Spread and Charity Warnings
What initially appeared to be a trend concentrated in London has now shown signs of spreading to other regions, including Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Avon and Somerset Police have acknowledged seeing posts linking the national trend to local schools and are "monitoring the situation extremely closely." Neighbourhood Chief Inspector Keith Smith assured communities that while this is concerning, there is currently no evidence of incidents linked to the trend in their area. The force has planned heightened patrols and reassurance measures at affected schools.
Anti-knife crime charities have joined the chorus of concern. Charlie's Promise, a charity founded in memory of 17-year-old stabbing victim Charlie Cosser, issued a stark warning: "While some young people may view this as a game or online challenge, the risks are very real." This sentiment underscores the critical gap between online bravado and the potentially tragic offline consequences of such trends.
Call to Action for Parents and Guardians
The unified message from police, schools, and charities is clear: parents and guardians must engage proactively with their children's online activities. Authorities urge adults to:
- Regularly check the social media apps their children use.
- Discuss the serious, real-world dangers of participating in or encouraging online trends that promote violence.
- Report any concerning posts or threats directly to the social media platforms and to the police.
- Remind young people that online actions can have severe legal and personal repercussions.
As the situation develops, police continue to work with social media companies and school partners to monitor online spaces and disable accounts that promote harm. The public is urged to contact police with any concerns and to call 999 immediately if a crime is in progress.
