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People with Disabilities Raise Awareness of TikTok Parents Who Use Their Photos to Scare Children

people with disabilities tiktok parents scare children
By Veronica Chan , Parent Herald

People with disabilities are raising awareness of TikTok parents who use their pictures to scare children.

Using the New Teacher Challenge, parents show kids photos of disabled people telling them it is their new teacher. Parents film their kids' reactions; they are both frightened and embarrassed. Parents do them all for a laugh.

A freelance writer and disability activist, Melissa Blake, was born with Freeman-Sheldon syndrome. She has a genetic bone and muscular disorder. She said that people have called her from "disgusting" to "blobfish" because of her looks. Some even told her that she should be banned from posting photos because she is ugly.

 

Feels sorry for children

Blake said that she feels sorry for children of parents who film and post the vulnerable moment where their kids cry. She could not help but wonder how these parents could take humiliating their children or how they find the little ones' reaction amusing.

See also: Children with Special Needs: Getting to Know the 13 Categories of Disabilities

Blake explained that parents should teach the next generation that differences should be celebrated and not feared nor mocked. The TikTok prank has strengthened the disability representation. She said that people need to get used to seeing others who look different as family members.

Kids should not be scared of different people

Lizzie Velasquez, a motivational speaker and author, found out that a mom used her photo. She condemned the trend by posting on her Instagram. She advises parents of young children not to teach these kids to be scared of people who do not look like them. She said that kids should learn about empathy, and being kind to people should start at home.

See also: Could Cord Blood Infusion Help Children with Autism and Intellectual Disability?

Born with Crouzon syndrome, Ariel Henley, is no stranger to cruel words she receives online. She said that people should stop seeing a different face as scary or bad, nor should they use these faces as a form of ridiculous or cruel TikTok trend. She dreams of the day when her face would become a non-issue.

Social media do not find it a violation of rules

Blake said that TikTok has not done anything against this online hate. The platform has found no violation of their rules when people tried to report accounts using her photos in the challenge. She has reported Twitter accounts that have posted blobfish photos to bully her. Sadly, the platform says there are no violations in their rules.

See also: Children with Disabilities Are Greatly Affected by The Coronavirus Pandemic

Blake wanted to make it clear that each photo, taunt, and cruel word violates her dignity and worth as a human being every time. She said that each time the online platforms fail to take action, they are sending a message that bullying is okay.

An Australian writer born with a rare severe skin condition causing a facial difference, Carly Findlay, is one of Blake's favorite disability activists. Findlay fights back regularly when people mock how she looks online, said Blake. Findlay taught people about her facial difference when she received hateful comments after Reddit linked to her blog in 2013.

People became more empathic toward her which grew her confidence. She wants to see young people grow up to be accepting and inclusive. Apart from that, she also wants them to never be afraid.

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