East London teenagers targeted by cyberbullies Vicious accounts identify victims

ONLINE SHAMING: Teens from schools in East London are being targeted in online accounts, where they are named in derogatory posts. THEO JEPHTA

On August 24, The Herald reported on schools across Gqeberha investigating alleged incidents of cyberbullying among teenagers at Westering and Alexander Road high schools, among others.

Unfortunately, East London schools have not been spared, with parents having come forward over the last two weeks alleging their children, from schools such as Stirling, Selborne, Clarendon, and Cambridge, have also been targets of abuse on Instagram accounts with handles such as @el_hoere_, el. hoeres_ and _retarded_community_el.

The account @_retarded_community_el describes the account in the bio section as “cyberbullying professionals”.

“This page will dissolve your pride, enthusiasm, brag … leveling up your despair. We will destroy your will to live #sevendeadlysins,” it states.

Similar to the accounts identified by the Gqherbha schools, the East London-based online accounts post inflammatory, sexist, and deprecatory content about their victims, who are named.

A local single mother whose daughter was targeted by one of the accounts fears for her daughter’s mental health given the gravity of the claims made by the @el_hoere_account.

The mother, who wished to remain anonymous to protect her child, said her daughter was shamed in the account of an incident that happened when she was in Grade 7.

She said her daughter, who struggled with depression and anxiety, was in a terrible state after the cyberbullying incident.

She and her daughter attempted to make contact with the account holder, instructing them to close the account.

Though the account was deleted, a new one sprang up immediately thereafter.

The mother has made contact with the authorities to have the matter investigated and the outcome is pending.

This is not the first time her daughter has been targeted by online abuse as previously a pupil at Cambridge High School allegedly made a TikTok video aimed at bullying four other girls including her.

“That broke her [her daughter], and I found out in the end who the child was but when I went to the police station to pursue this I was told I could not open a case because the perpetrator of the bullying was a minor.”

The mother said she was concerned about the hugely negative effect that social media has had on her daughter.

“My daughter has been following these accounts and I didn’t know that and maybe this is what has been making her so depressed.

“The bullying is going on everywhere, in the schools and on social media and it’s like the kids are wanting [sic] to destroy each other and I have no idea why.”

She believes schools should be more involved in combating bullying among teens and that parents with teenagers in East London would benefit greatly from support groups.

Deputy headmaster at Stirling High School, Alan Webster, said: “Stirling finds bullying in any form unacceptable and, where appropriate, disciplinary action is taken against the perpetrator.

“Cyber-bullying is a little complex to manage as it often takes place beyond the school environs and it is unclear how far the school’s responsibility and sanctioning extends.

“We do counsel both the victims and perpetrators of cyber-bullying and, where appropriate, punish those engaging in this hurtful and anti-social behaviour.

“We have brought experts to assemblies to warn and explain to the entire school body how cyber-bullying takes place and what its consequences are.”

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