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- TikTok has taken down two accounts impersonating schools because of their racist content.
- Accounts impersonating Table View High School and Milnerton High School had carried the content.
- News24 was also targeted by an impersonator using the company's branding, and this has also been removed.
Video sharing social network site TikTok has shut down two accounts that look as though they are linked to Cape Town schools, over racist content that was posted on them.
An account in the name of Table View High School, and a 15-year-old pupil at the school appeared with racist content last year.
The school said that the account was impersonating the school and a pupil, and it wanted the account taken down, but was battling to do so. It said the school did not have an account.
Another account appeared, in the name of Milnerton High School, not far from Table View High School, and that school also swiftly stated that it did not have a TikTok account. It asked people to join the numbers of people reporting it to TikTok to help get it taken down.
READ | Another fake, racist TikTok account emerges, this time targeting Milnerton High School
"TikTok can confirm that the accounts referred to in the article were deactivated," said a statement from TikTok's publicity firm in South Africa.
"With regards to Table View High School, TikTok issued a permanent device ban and corresponding ban for several associated accounts for hate speech violations on 20th Nov 2020; and the Milnerton High School account reported was permanently banned on Jan 18 2021."
An account appearing to be that of News24 also appeared on the network better known for its short video clips that often go viral.
The main thread of the content contained the k-word.
TikTok said the fake News24 account was placed under a permanent ban.
A TikTok spokesperson said: "We are committed to promoting a safe and positive app environment for our community.
"As we make clear in our Community Guidelines, we do not permit hate speech. The behaviour in question is a violation of our guidelines, and we remove any such reported content from the platform.
"TikTok also provides a range of safety tools and features to help people take control of their online experience, including ways to report inappropriate content, limit and filter comments, and block other users. For more, please visit our Safety Center."
- This article was updated to include additional comment from TikTok.
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