Teachers on TikTok: Where Do We Draw the Line?

By: Johnny Sullivan, Seasonal Public Relations Intern | Digital4Good

Over the past few years, a new social media trend has arisen in the world of K-12 education: teachers posting TikToks about their students. 

Viewers’ reactions to this type of content vary. Some videos have garnered positive attention, while others face serious scrutiny. Overall, this trend has sparked important discussions about where the line should be drawn in student-teacher interactions. 

Should teachers be allowed to include students in their social media content, and if so, how far should they go? 

Teachers on TikTok

Teachers have uploaded a range of content to social media, from “day in the life” segments that show what a typical day looks like for an educator, to clips of classroom Wordle games or videos of students surprising their teachers with a new lunch every day. 

Many of these videos are deemed harmless by educators because they are posted with student permission, do not break school rules, and avoid showing students’ faces. However, this trend has sparked considerable criticism and controversy among parents and the general public, raising arguments about what constitutes appropriate student-teacher relations. 

Among the most well-known teacher accounts is QBSKiiii (qbthedon), whose content has garnered over 17 million likes on TikTok. In February, QBSKiiii posted a video in which he calls out his 13-year-old students for not knowing how to identify basic shapes. Some viewers supported the teacher for bringing attention to a serious learning gap, while others criticized him for posting the video online, arguing that the issue should have been resolved privately. 

Another teacher, JaQ Lee (thilluminatin1), faced backlash from TikTok users after posting a video of female students unbraiding his hair. In his response to the criticism, JaQ explained that the video had been recorded during his students’ free time, and that the students had wanted to participate in the video. Reactions were divided between those who defended JaQ’s actions as simply bonding with his students and those raising concerns about the teacher crossing appropriate boundaries.

Varying Viewpoints

Teachers

For many teachers on TikTok, the primary benefit of posting these videos is student engagement. One of the biggest obstacles to learning is a lack of motivation and focus among students. Teacher TikToks have helped students find joy in learning and engage with the material outside of the classroom. 

Parents

Parents have varying and sometimes conflicting views on proper student-teacher and teacher-parent etiquette. (For instance, some parents will send friend requests to their children’s teachers without much thought.) Some parents are more lenient about their children appearing in social media posts, while others may object to the idea. Regardless, it is important for the adult posting the video to consider the potential consequences. If students are included in a publicly viewable TikTok video, this can put their identities and privacy at risk.

Students

Most students have been found to side with teachers on TikTok. Whether they’re watching their own teacher or someone else’s, students often find these videos entertaining and educational. After sitting in classrooms for nearly eight hours straight, students may find interactive online content an engaging supplement to traditional classroom activities and assignments. However, a line must be drawn when students feel their privacy has been violated, do not want to be shown on screen, or feel singled out or shamed by the teacher.

Navigating Boundaries

Parents, students, and teachers all have different views when it comes to posting on social media. Teachers’ TikTok content can significantly improve student engagement, but not without considerable risk. Above all, students’ privacy and safety should take first priority. 

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