Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh emailed the schools community on Thursday to address a widely shared post on the social media platform TikTok that refers to a threat to school safety “for every school in the USA, even elementary,” on Friday (Dec. 17).

“The post appears to be part of a national TikTok trend and did not originate in our school district,” Cavanuagh wrote in the email that was co-signed by Hopkinton Police Chief Joseph Bennett. “We have heard reports from other districts that the same post is circulating in their schools. While we do not believe the threat to be credible, we are closely monitoring the situation and taking it seriously.

“Additionally, the district has been in contact with the Hopkinton Police regarding the post. We may have an increased police presence in our buildings on Friday as an added precaution.

“This situation serves as a good example of why it is important to avoid sharing posts online that refer to school safety threats. Even if they are not credible threats, they can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for our students, families and staff. We ask our families to monitor your children’s social media activity, especially their cellphones, and speak with them about proper behavior online. Students engaged in perpetuating rumors or insinuating their connection to a potential violent situation will be held accountable.

“If you or your child become aware of any potential threat posted to social media or anywhere else, please notify a school administrator, a town safety official or trusted adult right away.”