Student crime does seem to be getting worse. But the key words here are “seem to be”. In actual fact, it’s not. Despite the large number of unsettling TikTok videos on the topic, there is no evidence to support any of these incidents. Northumbria Police and both universities have released official statements clarifying there is no basis of truth to the claims.
So why does it “seem to be” getting worse? Why are these rumours of particularly scary violence spreading on social media now? Before we point the finger, this kind of phenomenon, though dangerous and divisive, is human. Fear breeds fear. Rumours are like Chinese whispers; they grow, get distorted, and grow. It is likely there was a low-level arrest in Jesmond or Sandyford a few weeks ago, which people got wind of, and told more people about until it blew up into something seemingly much more serious.
When people don't verify their sources and believe whatever they see, the recent hyteria will result...
It's very easy for people to believe what they want to believe. As twisted as it is, there’s an element of excitement to having something shocking to talk about. Confession: when I first saw a 20-times reposted Facebook warning about it, I fell for it too. I felt the thrilling shiver of something dramatic happening in a normally peaceful neighbourhood. A tendency to gossip is far from new.
Social media only compounds this; untrustworthy and unreliable information is more available to us than ever before. When people don’t verify their sources and believe whatever they see, the recent hysteria will result.
The advice given out on these fear-mongering posts is to make sure to keep your doors locked, avoid walking alone in dangerous areas, and take reasonable safety precautions. This of course still stands. But also: don’t blindly believe sensationalist stories. This will only breed fear and mistrust, and destroy our sense of community.