TikTok Lives in classrooms are drawing concern in Algeria after pupils were reported broadcasting from inside schools, including while teachers were giving lessons.
TSA Algerie reported that some pupils have been using smartphones to stream live video during class, interacting with viewers and responding to comments while lessons continue. The report said videos circulating online show pupils filming themselves in classrooms, with some speaking during lessons and engaging directly with their audiences.
An unnamed teacher interviewed by Al Hayat television described the practice as “a phenomenon that is growing.” She said some pupils start live broadcasts “in the heart of the classroom” while teachers are teaching.
The teacher characterized the behavior as a “violation of the school premises” and a “lack of respect for teachers.” She also raised concerns that classroom broadcasts can be watched by people outside the school community.
School rules restrict smartphone use
The concern over TikTok Lives in classrooms comes despite internal school regulations cited by TSA that prohibit the use of “telephones, smartphones and other means of communication, recording and photography.”
According to the report, the rules provide for confiscation of the device and for the pupil’s parent or guardian to be summoned when the prohibition is breached.
TSA said the online videos it reviewed show varying behavior. Some pupils simply film themselves, while others talk during lessons, sometimes using vulgar language, and respond to comments while teachers continue explaining the material.
The source did not provide figures showing how many schools or pupils are involved, so the scale of the practice remains unquantified in the report.
Gendarmerie warns pupils about sharing images
The National Gendarmerie has also addressed the issue. TSA cited a video shared on social media in which a gendarmerie officer warned pupils about potentially serious consequences when images of classmates or teachers are taken and shared without consent.
“The pupil who photographs his classmate or teacher, without their consent, and shares the photo on social networks, thereby commits a cybercrime,” the officer said, according to TSA.
The officer added that when the National Gendarmerie receives a complaint concerning such conduct, its services “must react.”
The warning was presented by TSA in the context of classroom filming and social-media sharing. The report did not provide further legal analysis or details of specific cases arising from TikTok classroom broadcasts.
Parents urged to pay attention
The teacher interviewed by Al Hayat also called on parents to monitor their children’s behavior online. She warned that pupils who are not currently participating in classroom livestreams could begin doing so by imitating others.
The debate comes at the beginning of the school year, with the source portraying classroom livestreaming as a growing disciplinary concern for teachers and schools. The existing regulations cited in the report already restrict phones and recording devices, while the teacher’s comments and the gendarmerie warning focus on the additional consequences of broadcasting classroom activity and sharing images of others.
Sami B. is the founder and editor of Algeria News Gate, an independent English-language platform covering Algeria’s political, economic, and business developments. Based in Europe, he reports on official announcements, economic trends, and international relations involving Algeria.