Already in 2021, “National Rape Day” went viral and caused a stir. But even then it was a hoax that was quickly exposed. Various international fact checks have picked up the topic and reported on it (like HERE ). Unfortunately, that may not have been enough, because many users on TikTok are currently picking up on this old hoax and spreading it again.
“National Rape Day” is a form of horror chain letters that are now distributed as videos. This hoax was originally distributed as a sharepic and thus in chain letter form. There are remnants of this on Facebook ( HERE ).
This type of chain letter has occurred more frequently in the past. Horror chain letters have a bitter aftertaste: They create phantom discussions (a content is discussed that has no relevance at all because it does not exist in the form being discussed) or even free riders are brought onto the scene.
Already in 2016, the phenomenon of horror chain letters in relation to the so-called horror clowns caused uncertainty worldwide (we reported ) . The chain letters surrounding “ Momo ” can also be attributed to this effect. Due to the phantom discussions that arise, horror chain letters quickly become very viral, as many people spread them further out of fear of the content. The motto is: “Better save than sorry”.
“National Rape Day”: What really matters
It is important that parents and schools do not fall for these videos and thereby reinforce them or manifest them in any way. The spread of false information regarding sexual assault can have unpleasant effects on a variety of levels. It is therefore of great importance that everyone contributes to preventing these types of hoaxes from becoming more widespread.
This is a very sensitive topic that requires clarification. On the one hand, young people must not be unsettled by horror chain letters. At the same time, the issue of sexual violence is also in the room. Victims of sexual violence must be taken seriously and supported. Phantom discussions or even fake videos about alleged abuses have no place here!
The spread of hoaxes related to sexual violence can lead to people no longer taking these topics seriously or even inventing cases of abuse themselves in order to gain publicity for the hoax. It is therefore important that this form of misinformation is quickly exposed and that people are made aware of the importance of using reliable sources.
Stop horror chain letters!
Break the chain! Whether “National Rape Day”, Momo or horror clowns. All these horror chain letters create uncertainty and are specifically reinforced by unnecessary virality. It can be clearly stated that “National Rape Day” is a hoax,
The only problem is that the videos exist and people claim their “fame” with (sometimes invented, sometime misinterpreted) anecdotal evidence. TikTok would do well to add fact-check flags to this topic.
Furthermore, it is not only important that this false information is effectively debunked, but also that people are informed about how they should behave in the event of a real sexual assault. Parents and schools should be careful not to spread false information and to teach their students the importance of reliable sources.
This might also be of interest : When facts no longer play a role
Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )