Mount Lawley Senior High School in Perth was the scene of a police response after threats of violence, including a video depicting armed individuals, were spread on TikTok. Multiple police units were present at the school on Friday.

A police spokesperson confirmed an investigation into the threats, stating that officers were working with the school to address the situation. The spokesperson also indicated that there were no immediate safety concerns for students, teachers, or the community.

The school's principal, Lesley Street, communicated with parents, advising them to discuss social media use and any concerns with their children. Staff were informed that police would be conducting increased patrols around the school as a safety precaution. The State security investigation group is leading the inquiry into the matter.

Original article

Actionable Information: The article provides one piece of actionable advice: parents are advised to discuss social media use and any concerns with their children.

Educational Depth: The article does not offer educational depth. It reports on an event and the immediate response without explaining the underlying causes of such threats, the process of investigating online threats, or the psychological impact of such incidents on students.

Personal Relevance: The topic has personal relevance for parents and guardians of school-aged children, as it highlights a real-world issue involving social media and school safety. It may prompt discussions about online behavior and safety.

Public Service Function: The article serves a limited public service function by informing the public about a specific incident and the response from authorities. It mentions increased police patrols as a safety precaution, which could be seen as a form of public safety information. However, it does not provide broader safety advice or emergency contact information.

Practicality of Advice: The advice to discuss social media use with children is practical and realistic for parents.

Long-Term Impact: The article's long-term impact is minimal. It reports on a single event and does not offer strategies for long-term prevention or management of online threats.

Emotional or Psychological Impact: The article could evoke concern or anxiety in readers, particularly parents, due to the subject matter of threats and police presence at a school. However, it attempts to mitigate this by stating there were no immediate safety concerns.

Clickbait or Ad-Driven Words: The article does not appear to use clickbait or ad-driven language. It reports the facts of the situation in a straightforward manner.

Missed Chances to Teach or Guide: The article missed opportunities to provide more value. It could have included information on how to report concerning online content, resources for parents to educate their children about online safety, or guidance on what to do if a child is involved in or witnesses such threats. A normal person could find more information by searching for online safety resources from government education departments or reputable child safety organizations.

The reliance on external, centralized authorities for the resolution of threats to children's safety weakens the natural duty of families and neighbors to protect their own. The presence of multiple police units and an ongoing investigation, while addressing an immediate concern, shifts the responsibility for safeguarding the young from the immediate kin and community to distant entities. This reliance can erode the sense of personal duty and vigilance that has historically ensured the survival of clans.

The advice from the school principal to parents to discuss social media use with their children highlights a breakdown in the direct transmission of values and safety knowledge from elders and parents to the younger generation. Instead of parents and extended kin actively teaching discernment and responsible behavior, the burden is placed on a formal institution to prompt these essential conversations. This diffusion of parental responsibility can weaken the bonds of trust and mutual obligation within families.

The use of platforms like TikTok, which facilitate the rapid spread of potentially harmful content, demonstrates a disconnect from traditional community structures that would have vetted and controlled the flow of information. This impersonal, widespread communication channel bypasses the established roles of elders and trusted community members in guiding the young, potentially exposing children to dangers that local kinship networks would have shielded them from.

The consequence of these trends, if unchecked, is a further erosion of familial and community cohesion. Children may grow up accustomed to external authorities managing their safety and moral guidance, diminishing their own sense of duty towards their kin and community. Trust between neighbors may falter as the shared responsibility for protecting the vulnerable is outsourced. The stewardship of the land, which is intrinsically linked to the long-term survival and care of the people, can also suffer as local accountability weakens, replaced by a reliance on abstract systems that may not prioritize the enduring needs of the land and its people. The continuity of the people, dependent on strong, responsible families, is jeopardized when these fundamental duties are diluted.

The text uses a passive voice to hide who is responsible for spreading the threats. "threats of violence, including a video depicting armed individuals, were spread on TikTok" does not say who spread the video. This makes it unclear who did the action. It makes the action seem like it happened on its own.

The text uses words that make the police seem very helpful and in control. "Multiple police units were present at the school on Friday" and "officers were working with the school to address the situation" show the police are active. This makes the police look good. It also makes the situation seem less scary because the police are there.

The text tries to make the situation seem less serious by saying there were no immediate safety concerns. "The spokesperson also indicated that there were no immediate safety concerns for students, teachers, or the community" is a quote. This might make people feel safe. But it could also hide the real worry people might have.

The principal's advice to parents might be seen as shifting blame. "advising them to discuss social media use and any concerns with their children" is a quote. This puts the job of fixing the problem on parents and kids. It might take focus away from the school or police needing to do more.

The text conveys a sense of concern and seriousness due to the police response at Mount Lawley Senior High School following threats of violence. This emotion is evident from the mention of "threats of violence" and a "video depicting armed individuals," which immediately signals a potentially dangerous situation. The presence of "multiple police units" further amplifies this feeling of seriousness, indicating that the authorities are taking the matter with great importance. The purpose of this emotion is to inform the reader about a significant event and to underscore the gravity of the threats. It guides the reader's reaction by creating an awareness of a real-world problem that requires attention and official action.

The message also aims to build trust and reassurance by highlighting the actions being taken to ensure safety. The police spokesperson's statement that there were "no immediate safety concerns" and the principal's communication with parents about discussing social media use and the information about "increased patrols" all serve to calm potential anxieties. These elements are designed to assure the community that the situation is being managed effectively and that measures are in place to protect everyone. This approach helps to shape the reader's opinion by demonstrating competence and a commitment to safety, thereby fostering confidence in the school and the police.

The writer uses specific words and phrases to achieve this emotional balance. For instance, the contrast between the initial "threats of violence" and the subsequent assurance of "no immediate safety concerns" is a key persuasive tool. This juxtaposition helps to acknowledge the seriousness of the event without causing undue panic. The repetition of the idea of safety through "police response," "address the situation," "no immediate safety concerns," and "increased patrols" reinforces the message that safety is the top priority. These carefully chosen words and the structured presentation of information work together to manage the reader's emotional response, aiming to inform them of a serious incident while simultaneously providing comfort and confidence in the handling of the situation.