Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during the transmission of his live weekly podcast "Maduro Live de Repente," on Thursday, Nov 14. Photo: Presidential Press.
In a new edition of his podcast Maduro Live de Repente, President Nicolás Maduro condemned the misuse of social media platforms through which a challenge in which students in schools and high schools are exposed to toxic substances that cause serious poisoning has been promoted. The challenge has affected several schools in different states of Venezuela.
“We have spoken with parents and guardians, and they knew nothing about this. They found out because we spoke about it publicly,” said President Maduro this Thursday, November 14. He emphasized that measures are being taken to minimize the risks to the student population.
“I have instructed Minister HĂ©ctor RodrĂguez and the governor of Portuguesa [state] to mobilize teachers, parents and guardians, and students to reject this in the streets,” he said.
“They promote and make it fashionable for children to prepare certain products that they spill on desks, floors, bathrooms, or clothes that cause various types of poisoning,” said President Maduro, highlighting that there are seven severe poisoning cases in Venezuela.
President Maduro called on parents and guardians to be very aware of what their young people see since this type of challenge affects thousands of young people around the world, and Venezuela is not exempt from this situation.
The president said people are already detained for these challenges that spread via TikTok.
He regretted that the far-right is trying to “ride on these regrettable events and call for schools to be closed. Either they are behind these campaigns or are trying to harm the best start of the school year in 12 years. They are desperate to harm Venezuela to see if they can disturb our peace,” he added.
TikTok Challenge Likely Behind Poisoning in Venezuelan Schools
Victims of what was a hope
Education Minister HĂ©ctor RodrĂguez, a special guest on the presidential podcast, discussed the importance of monitoring the content children and young people have access to on social media platforms as they are falling victim to unscrupulous people.
“Our children are falling victim to what was once a great hope, social media, which has become a tragedy for humanity,” said Minister RodrĂguez. He added that “in the case of education, it is causing much harm. There is a need to raise awareness in society, among students and guardians.”
“We cannot leave our children and adolescents in the hands of social media… reports show that exposure to screens before the age of five results in less brain growth… this is decreasing students’ attention levels,” the minister said.
(Ăšltimas Noticias) by Randolf Borges
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
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