Perspective: The senior assassin game appears entertaining until it turns serious.
USA Today reports that "senior assassin," a game popular among high school students, is often played outside of school grounds. Many students use the game to make videos for social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. However, this tangled web of mischief has resulted in a surge of 911 calls, car accidents, school evacuations, and even risky encounters with people carrying real firearms.
Given the isolation experienced by the current generation of students, it's not surprising that they're trying to find ways to bond with their peers during their final year at school. However, communities need to provide safe avenues for these students to meet their needs. This is where parents, schools, lawmakers, and tech companies step in to prevent the tragic consequences of playing this nefarious game.
The decrease in social outings for high school students from 2.78 per week in 1999 to 1.89 in 2020 is staggering, as reported by the University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future survey. The rise of smartphones and social media has undoubtedly contributed to this unfortunate trend. With the pandemic separating students from their peers, it's no wonder "senior assassin" gained traction in the early 2010s, just as the majority of students were spending more time on their devices.
The game promotes reckless behavior, which could lead to harmful outcomes. For instance, one can easily confuse a kid playing the game with a real threat, as more than 40% of American households own a gun. According to the Pew Research Center, 72% of gun owners claim that protection is the main reason they own a firearm. Kaylin Gillis, a young woman, and her friends met this fate when they accidentally entered the wrong driveway, mistaking it for their friend's house. Kaylin was tragically shot by the homeowner, highlighting the potential dangers of mistaking play for reality.
"Senior assassin" is a precarious way for students to connect with each other. Moreover, the game disrupts community peace and causes nuisance to law enforcement officers, who shouldn’t be inundated with calls about children running around with what could easily be mistaken for real weapons.
To counter this alarmingly risky game, authorities, schools, libraries, and community centers could organize various events for students to interact and celebrate the end of the school year. Ideas include dance parties, movie marathons, trivia nights, amateur/open mic nights, and field days or other sports events.
Parents should prevent their children from participating in this game. Some schools might consider letting students play it on school grounds (inside the gym or in designated areas on school property) to discourage them from playing it in public or on private property, where it could cause confusion and panic.
Tech companies can also play a role in discouraging this trend by shadow-banning content promoting the game. This would diminish its allure, as would discouraging other violent imagery by implementing stricter moderation policies.
Lastly, lawmakers must take action to regulate the manufacture of toys that imitate real guns, as children cannot discern the difference between fake and real firearms. A bright orange water gun as opposed to a grey one would be a glaring signal to people that no one is in harm's way.
connection with one another. It's crucial for parents, schools, and communities to offer alternative, safe activities for students to interact and say goodbye to their school days, but letting them play this potentially fatal game on school premises isn't the solution. Instead, tech companies can implement stricter moderation controls and ban content showing people "shooting" at one another, while lawmakers should pass legislation to prevent the production of toy guns that resemble real ones.
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Parents may have different opinions on whether allowing their children to play "senior assassin" on school grounds is a safe alternative. Despite some schools considering this option, it's crucial to consider the potential for confusion and panic among bystanders, who might mistake toy guns for real weapons.
On social media platforms, industry leaders and content creators have the power to shape opinions. By promoting alternative, safe activities for students, they can discourage the spread of the "senior assassin" game and encourage healthier forms of bonding among high school students.
Source: edition.cnn.com
