A few years ago, it was hard to imagine that state institutions would be making waves online with videos published on social media. Today, it’s the norm; videos on Instagram or TikTok are published by celebrities, heads of state, priests, and even... police officers. The County Police Headquarters in Wołów has its official TikTok account, where they regularly post educational content. The police videos have gained significant popularity among internet users, having garnered over 309,000 likes. In one of their recent videos, they addressed an important appeal to teenagers.
Police Appeal to Teenagers on TikTok: Severe Penalties Await You for This
"Are you a teenager and want to be a sigma? Then don’t swear!" - this is how the video posted by police officers from the County Police Headquarters in Wołów begins, aimed at teenagers. It’s worth clarifying a few things here. What exactly does the term "sigma" mean?
In 2023, this word took second place in the ranking of the most popular youth words of the year. "Sigma", as explained on the website of the National Centre for Culture, is a popular term for an independent, self-confident, admired, and successful person. It seems that the police officers decided to win the favor of teenagers right from the start by using a term frequently used by them.
In the next part of the video, we learn that from the age of 10, one can be held accountable for signs of demoralization. "Demoralization includes things like using vulgar language, truancy, running away from home, vandalism, smoking, or drinking alcohol" - the officer explains. The video goes on to inform that if a person over the age of 10 but still underage commits any of these acts, they can be reprimanded, placed under the supervision of a probation officer, sent to a youth educational center, or even a juvenile detention center. But that’s not all. The video also mentions the consequences of breaking the law for older teenagers.
"If you are 15 or older, for committing what is called a serious crime, you will be treated as an adult" - added the officer from the County Police Headquarters in Wołów.
The Officer Has Advice for Teenagers. "Use Your Common Sense and Follow the Rules"
At the end of the TikTok video, the officer directly addressed the teenage viewers. "Be assertive, use your common sense, and follow the rules" - he added. In the comments under the video posted by the County Police Headquarters, it was emphasized that this type of material is very necessary and useful. This was particularly noted by the parents of growing children. "Thanks! I just showed it to my son. He’s laughing, but maybe something got through," "Great message," reads some of the comments. However, there were also some sarcastic remarks. "I was at the station, and every cop there was swearing," "Rules are made to be broken," others added playfully. What do you think? Do these kinds of videos have a chance to reach the youth and engage teenagers, or are they more likely to be ridiculed?
