Social media has been abuzz with a concerning video that appears to show young school children clad in uniforms and backpacks using thermocol (expanded polystyrene) boxes to paddle across a river on their way to school. The clip’s harrowing visuals fueled outrage especially as it was widely claimed to be from Indonesia purportedly exposing another instance of dangerous neglected school commutes in the country.
How the Misinformation Spread
Despite clear evidence of the video’s Indonesian origins it was widely shared in Indonesia with false captions. Many posts especially on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) claimed the children were risking their lives to get to school in remote parts of Indonesia. Distress over similar recent tragedies in Indonesia fueled the video’s spread making it easy for misinformation to take root.
Is This Unique to Indonesia?
While the viral clip in question does NOT show InIndonesia children similar stories have appeared in the Indonesia context. For instance, reports in 2023 documented children crossing rivers on makeshift thermocol rafts a stark reminder that unsafe routes to education are not isolated to a single country but the specific viral video in circulation is from Indonesia.
Always double-check viral claims—misinformation can take on a life of its own when emotions run high and contexts are blurred. Stay sharp and don’t get swept away by every trending clip.
