Lynchburg, VirginiaA Virginia criminologist is warning people not to believe everything they see on social media because of the growing anxiety caused by viral videos on sites like Facebook and TikTok. Officials claim the worry is unfounded despite the frightening allegations that scores of youngsters have been abducted throughout the state.
State Police Say Numbers Don t Support Viral Claims
Contrary to internet articles that suggested a sharp rise, the Virginia State Police have publicly declared that the number of missing children reported last week was only 10 fewer than the weekly average for 2025. (WSET)
Criminologist: No Cults or Mass Kidnapping Rings
The viral messages, according to local criminologist and former police officer Todd Burke, are a perfect illustration of how false information circulates online.
According to Burke, social media may be very helpful, but it can also be risky, especially when you’re dealing with inaccurate claims and misinformation.
He underlined that although kidnappings do occur, they are exceedingly uncommon and typically entail family-related circumstances rather than random kidnappings.
Burke clarified that there isn’t a large cult abducting children.Are there kidnappings? Indeed. But we’re probably talking about a kid who has gone missing and will be found safely.
Social Media vs. Reality: How Fear Spreads
Burke added that rather than an increase in real cases, the current volume of reports might be the result of improved communication between law enforcement. He advised parents to avoid responding to unverified viral claims and instead concentrate on information from reputable sources.
This was repeated by the Virginia State Police, who advised citizens to confirm statements with official sources and abstain from posting unsupported content that could incite unwarranted panic and divert law enforcement resources.
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