Safeguarding Alert!

We’re sharing urgent concerns about conversations happening online on TikTok, about ‘Megan is Missing’, a movie being discussed on social media and shared on YouTube.

Online safety experts have observed children and young people discussing the movie on TikTok and seeking out the link to the full film which now has over 4million views.

What is the issue?

The film ‘Megan is Missing’ has made a revival on TikTok and is appearing on people’s ‘For You Pages’ (this is where users get content on TikTok).

It depicts the online grooming and subsequent abduction, assault and rape of what is represented as a 14-year-old high school student.

The highly distressing content could have a lasting negative impact on children and young people, especially those who have experienced child sexual abuse and exploitation.

TikTok users are posting videos of their reactions to the film, as well as taking part in an online challenge, in which they see how long they can last while watching the most disturbing scenes.

Traffic is being driven to the movie by clickbait comments such as DONT WATCH THIS. This tactic undoubtedly incites the curiosity of younger users.

The complete movie is currently available on YouTube where attempts at age verification are limited and easily circumvented.

INEQE Advice:

It’s unlikely that the children in your care will have seen this content. Therefore, our advice is to sensitively check in with them. Do this by having an open conversation but do not directly mention this movie by name.

Suggest that you’ve heard there is some disturbing content being circulated in an online challenge and ask if they’ve heard of anything like that?

This is the best way to open an indirect conversation that enables the child to talk to you about any concerns without inciting them or their friends to seek out the actual content.