Fake "school start postponed" rumour
AI-made TikTok videos, viewed hundreds of thousands of times, falsely claimed the French school start was postponed after a cyberattack, and fake "class list" sites are circulating alongside them.
Should I worry?
The rumour is false: the French education ministry says the school start is not postponed. The videos twist real administrative problems after a cyberattack and use AI tools to look credible, even citing news outlets misleadingly. The one thing worth a glance is fake sites that claim to reveal class lists in advance. They collect students' personal information and can set kids up for later scams. If your teen mentions such a site, remind them that school information comes only from the school or school service centre, and that they shouldn't enter names or other details on sites promising early lists.
How to join in
Teens who see these videos may be hoping for extra holiday days, which is why they get shared so fast. It is a good, low-stakes chance to talk about how to spot a fake: a dramatic "it just dropped" opening, no link to an official source, and a real news story twisted into something else. Ask your teen what made the video feel believable and check together with the official source. The rumour concerns France, so it doesn't change anything for the school year here.
Try saying
“I saw a video going around saying school start got pushed back, and it turns out it's fake. Some of these are made with AI to look real, so I'm curious: how do you tell when something's legit? Also, if a site ever promises to show your class list early, check with me before you type anything in.”
Sources
From Mistlift, mistlift.app. Plain talk about what kids are into online.