This widespread phenomenon has surged on social media following the Apalachee high school shooting Sept. 4. In Florida, over 50 school shooting threats were reported in less than 24 hours of the Apalachee school shooting, while more than 21 students have been arrested in Georgia after making threats. Law enforcement and school officials indicate that most of these recent threats are hoaxes. However, to ensure student safety, authorities continue to investigate each threat, resulting in heightened police presence in schools and temporary campus closures.

Bullhead City, Arizona, has recently experienced a similar incident. A 14-year-old boy composed an email advising students to remain at home due to a school shooting threat. He made it look like he received the email from faculty and sent it to himself to convince his mother he should stay home. These same false statements were made to school staff and police. Ultimately, the boy was booked and charged with a felony.

“I don’t think he understood the repercussions of those actions, that it would actually lead to a felony for this eighth-grader,” Dominique Moore, a school counselor at Mohave High School, said.

Moore emphasized that students have not faced consequences for similar actions in the past, which leads them to perceive the situation as lacking seriousness. She elaborated on the idea of having law enforcement hold a meeting with students to explain the legal repercussions of making such threats.

As a school counselor, Moore described her role in supporting and guiding students. She highlighted the importance of prioritizing students' mental health and educating them about its significance. This includes assisting students who struggle with harmful thoughts as well as those who experience anxiety due to these false threats.

The focus on mental health support is especially prevalent in today’s school environment, where students are faced with heightened anxiety or uncertainty due to these threats. Addressing these concerns is crucial as it allows students to process their emotions in a safe and supportive environment.

Esmeralda Castro, a high school student, shared her perspective on being affected by these false threats. She explained how her anxiety intensifies because of the uncertainty surrounding the authenticity of the threat.

“They did prepare us in some way but some of the teachers didn’t believe it as well, so they were like, ‘sit in your chairs and relax’,” Castro said.

Schools must sensitize this reality not just among students, but staff as well.

Given the increasing severity of these threats in recent times, it is crucial for schools to enforce new and stronger policies.

Kathleen Giannamore, principal of Mohave High School, shares that their school has implemented a system that flags certain words typed into their computers. When these words are detected, the administration receives an email or “bark alert” notifying them that a student may be researching topics related to profanity, suicide or violence.

“We’re able to see those, and address them with the kids after looking at them,” Giannamore said.

She continues by referencing the recent case involving the 14-year-old boy and stresses that, moving forward, students who make false threats will face consequences similar to his.

Due to the rise in false threats, it necessitates a proactive approach from schools all around. By establishing effective policies and fostering awareness among both students and staff, educational institutions can create a safer environment.