In the ever-expanding world of social media, where everyone is vying for attention, it was perhaps inevitable that teachers would enter the fray. Social media is now filled with teachers filming classrooms for TikTok, capturing themselves mid-lesson while their students’ voices provide background noise. These videos are not part of formal professional development (CPD) or pedagogical discussion; they are self-promotional, designed to boost personal brands and social media followings. And that is deeply troubling.
The Classroom Is Not a Content Studio
First and foremost, a classroom is a place of learning, not a stage. A teacher’s priority should be the education and welfare of their students, not how many likes or shares they can get online. Teaching is not a performance for external validation; it is a profession that requires focus, respect, and a deep sense of responsibility. When a teacher sets up their phone to capture moments of their lesson—however well-intentioned—it introduces a performative element that risks undermining the authenticity of the teaching environment.
Student Voices Are Not Consent
Even if no children appear on camera, their voices are often audible in the background of these clips. This raises serious ethical and safeguarding concerns. Were parents consulted? Did students explicitly consent to their voices being used for their teacher’s online persona? In most cases, the answer is almost certainly no. Schools have strict policies around filming students, but social media has blurred those boundaries. Just because a student is not visible does not mean their privacy is being respected.
Furthermore, the power imbalance between teacher and student means that even if children were asked for permission, they may not feel able to say no. The result? Young people’s voices are being used as props in a performance they never signed up for.
The Blurring of Professional Boundaries
Teaching is a profession that relies on trust, authority, and boundaries. Teachers posting themselves mid-lesson on social media erodes these distinctions. It turns the teacher into an influencer, where their personal brand becomes entangled with their professional role. A lesson designed for a specific group of students in a particular context is suddenly repurposed for mass online consumption. That shift transforms education from a relational, student-centred process into a spectacle.
Moreover, once these videos are online, they are open to misinterpretation, mockery, and even exploitation. A clip taken out of context could be used to ridicule a teacher, misrepresent their methods, or even become a viral joke at their expense. Worse still, students themselves may find their words or interactions circulating far beyond the walls of their school, without their knowledge or consent.
The Rise of the “Edufluencer” Culture
At the heart of this issue is a growing trend: the rise of the “edufluencer”—teachers who cultivate large followings by sharing classroom content online. While there is nothing wrong with discussing best practices, sharing resources, or engaging in meaningful educational discourse, the shift towards self-promotion disguised as pedagogy is problematic. It encourages a culture where teaching becomes about personal branding rather than student learning.
What happens when an “edufluencer” prioritises viral content over effective teaching? What happens when they begin tailoring their lessons not to their students’ needs, but to what will generate the most engagement? The moment social media influence becomes a goal in itself, the integrity of the profession is at risk.
Schools Must Set Clearer Boundaries
If schools do not already have policies in place to regulate teachers’ social media use in the classroom, they urgently need to. Teachers filming classrooms for TikTok should not be allowed to use students—visibly or audibly—for their personal content.
More broadly, educators should reflect on the motivation behind posting classroom clips. Is it truly to contribute to professional dialogue, or is it simply about visibility and personal brand-building? The best teachers are those who inspire their students, not an anonymous audience of followers.
The Classroom Deserves More Respect
Education should not be reduced to content for clout. Teaching is a profession built on trust, expertise, and the responsibility to shape young minds—not a stepping stone to social media fame. If teachers want to be influencers, they should find ways to do so without turning their students into unwitting extras in their digital personas.
The classroom is a sacred space, and it deserves to be treated as such.
Further Reading: TikTok’s Influence on Education
