The dangerous social media scoreboard ‘game’ every parent needs to know about

Police say the ‘game’ is exacerbating gang violence (Picture: Getty Images) While no parent wants to believe their child is caught up in organised crime, an estimated 70,000 young people are involved in gangs throughout the UK. In a recent LBC report, the Metropolitan Police revealed youth violence in Lambeth and Southwark had been on the increase this year — in no small part due to a dangerous new social media ‘game’. Officers working on Operation Gallium, the Met’s latest crackdown on organised street crime, warned ‘scoreboards’ posted online were partly to blame for escalating gang violence. One described the league tables as a ‘method of keeping track of how active someone is on the gang scene,’ which ‘increases street credibility’ for members. ‘If you’re active, you’ll be out stabbing people or starting fights and that scores points,’ the undercover officer explained. ‘They see it as a game.’ Another told Metro: ‘It’s like a sick version of a fantasy football league only it’s real. It shows the lengths these gangs will go to outdo each other. And people get caught in the middle.’ Scoreboards are posted online to ‘taunt’ rival gangs (Picture: Getty Images) Searching TikTok, it’s not hard to find examples of this, with videos tallying up marks for incidents ranging from car chases to shootings, as well as drill songs featuring lyrics about ‘scoring’ or ‘getting on the board’. According to police, scoreboards are shared on social media to ‘taunt’ rival gangs, which often can then ‘invoke a response or retaliation’ and lead to further, more serious violence. Paul Dayes, founder and director of Exit Foundation, which supports young people affected by gang involvement, called the trend ‘deeply concerning’, saying it ‘risks reducing devastating violence to a competition, obscuring the reality of lives lost, life-changing injuries and traumatised families.’ Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. ‘Presenting violence as a route to recognition can create pressure for young people to prove themselves, respond to humiliation or retaliate,’ he tells Metro. ‘Social media can extend that pressure beyond an immediate peer group, giving threats and violent incidents an audience.’ How can parents best protect their children from social media trends that promote violence? Engage in open conversations about online safety and peer pressure.Check Monitor their child's online activity closely.Check Educate themselves about the latest harmful social media trends.Check Seek professional help if they suspect their child is at risk.Check With the NSPCC listing the desire to fit in and gain status among the reasons teens become involved in gangs, exposure to this kind of content could be the start of something more worrying. So if you’re concerned your child may be viewing scoreboard videos — or is potentially caught up in gang activity themselves — here’s what you need to know. Signs your child may be involved in a gang A spokesperson for Catch22, a charity working to reduce organised crime, violence, and exploitation of young people, says key warning signs to look out for include ‘significant changes in behaviour, increased secrecy online, unexplained money or possessions, new friendship groups, or signs of exploitation.’ ‘However, it’s important to understand these indicators within the wider context of a young person’s life,’ they tell Metro. ‘Any one sign in isolation does not necessarily indicate gang involvement, but a combination of factors may suggest that additional support is needed.’ Look out for significant behavioural changes (Picture: Getty Images) Paul echoes this, recommending parents keep an eye on shifts occurring at the same time. Alongside those previously mentioned, he highlights ‘regularly going missing, declining school attendance, withdrawal from family, or sudden distress around online activity’ as potential red flags. ‘Parents should avoid drawing conclusions from a child’s clothing, music choices, ethnicity or friendship group alone,’ Paul adds. ‘The focus should be on their safety and what may be happening to them.’ What to do if you think your child is in a gang As Paul explains, the first step should be ‘calm conversation’. He advises: ‘Start with a calm conversation. Explain what you have noticed, listen without immediately accusing, and make clear that you want to help. ‘A useful opening is: “I’m worried about you. Is anyone making you feel frightened or pressuring you to do something?”‘ Don’t wait for proof to seek help either; contact their school’s designated safeguarding lead, local children’s services or the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000. ‘If involvement is confirmed, ask professionals to coordinate a safety plan,’ Paul continues. ‘Avoid confronting suspected exploiters or arranging a confrontation between young people yourself, as this could increase the danger. ‘A child involved in offending may also be experiencing grooming, threats or exploitation. Taking the harm they cause seriously must go alongside recognising their need for protection. ‘Our message to parents is simple: keep communication open, seek support and do not feel you have to manage this alone.’ Do you have a story you’d like to share? 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