Is social media to blame? Chester County teachers become target of viral attacks

Middle schoolers in Chester County made national headlines for creating TikTok accounts impersonating their teachers. They posted racist, homophobic, and sexually explicit content — things that could ruin a teacher’s reputation and career. This incident has raised concerns about the influence of social media on middle schoolers’ behavior. Many believe that the anonymity and immediacy of platforms like TikTok can embolden teenagers to act callously. Some argue that parents and schools bear some responsibility for failing to monitor and educate teens on appropriate online behavior.

This episode: is social media making kids meaner? And who should be held responsible? We talk with New York Times technology reporter Natasha Singer, who broke the story, and Great Valley School District Superintendent Dr. Daniel Goffredo. We’ll also talk with University of Pennsylvania neurologist Frances Jensen about what social media does to the teenage brain.