Facebook page gives HS students a platform to harass each other
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ASTORIA, Ore. – A new Facebook page set up to harass and embarrass students at Astoria High School is providing another glimpse into the not-so-secret world of online bullying.
The page, called “The Truth of A.H.S.”, was created with the apparent goal of letting people post anonymous comments about Astoria High School students. It includes a link where people can submit “confessions” that are in turn publicly, and anonymously, posted.
Of the dozens of posts, many are direct attacks or insults about specific students. Some posts call out the alleged sexuality of students whiles others brag about sexual exploits.
The page was created on Tuesday and school administrators said they learned about it late that night.
Superintendent Craig Hoppes said this is a whole new level of cyber-bullying.
“That kids will talk like this about each other – and provide weaknesses for other people – without showing their face or providing their name is bothersome,” Hoppes said.
District lawyers have contacted Facebook in an attempt to shut down the page. There was also an assembly at the school on Wednesday where the principal told students to stop the harassment and be good to each other.
"This is bullying; this has caused a disruption to our school day," Hoppes said. "I'm concerned about the safety of our kids."
School administrators don’t know who made the Facebook page or if he or she is even a student.
"This could hurt somebody more than just emotionally, this could hurt physically," said concerned citizen Kristine Brown, who first told KATU about this page. "When you're at that age you take this seriously because you believe it's true when people are saying things about you."
Several people have taken to the comments section to criticize the page administrator.
“This is wrong,” one person wrote. “Why would u put people down they don’t put u down.” [sic]
“If you don’t have the guts to say something to someone’s face or message them, then why do it on here?” another person wrote. “It makes you look like a coward. Grow up.”
Read more: "Past the tipping point: A KATU investigation into teen suicide" and resources for bullied youth
@ alexandra You can use software that you install on your sonâs smartphone but if she access facebook from home computer, you wonât know about that. You can also use an online service called pgguard. It informs you on such suspicious incidents regardless of the device your son uses. You can google it so that you will know their service. I hope I can help
Teenagers thinking isn't acceptable already. Maybe they think it is just an expression of true feelings and it is okay. I am afraid this will happen to my son. Does anyone here knows how to monitor my son's social networking accounts without invading his privacy?
any software that I can use?
Here's a thought, why not go and delete your facebook account. Go outside and actually have a face to face discussion. Confront the bully face to face and they always back down. Why b/c in the NW bullies are worthless cowards who have parents that don't care to love on them. Now if you were anywhere else in america just simply pop them on the nose and they'll leave you alone. B/c those are the ones that fight and you just need to catch them off guard.
Bullying has always exsisted to an extant forever. The problem is it seems the number of bullies has increased. I would not read this site but it sure shows how little compassion people put in their children. It also demostrates just how hateful mankind really is when given an anonomous place to spew from. Kids will be kids but they arnt even kids anymore and that goes back to the parent(s).
Oh for crying out loud. The problem is now no one speaks to each other. It is all done with text messages. When I was in school, MANY years ago, everything that is being "posted" is the same s**t that was being "said". The only difference is, in my day, it was wispered to each other, and now is being posted. No one killed themselves, and they all knew people were gossiping about them. If you don't want to be gossiped about, then don't do anything that will fuel the gossip.
People being mean and not truthful on the internet. Â Weird.
For crying out loud. Â People will whine about anything. Â Grow up. stop making excuses and whining about being picked on. FCS.... Â I am sick of listening to people complain about this type of stuff.Â
I agree that there should not be forums intended expressly for picking on other people, BUT...people need to be a little thicker skinned too..
Who cares is someone says something crappy about someone else? Â If it's not true, then who cares? Â If it IS true, then why are they complaining? Â I don't get why people are so upset by this stupid stuff. Â My question is.....if someone says something about someone else, and it is true, do you really have the right to be offended? Â I think no. Â If they are exploiting the fact that someone is different just to be cruel, then that is a different story. Â People are either too thin skinned, or they are hiding stuff that they don't want anyone to know about in most cases. Â How about this? Â Don't be a degenerate, or give them a reason to pick on you? Â Parents need to teach their kids to let this stuff roll off their backs and deal with these issues, rather than teaching them to be whiners. Â God knows the last thing this country needs is MORE whiners.
More of the same crap from a society of ignorant people.....
looks like its gone now..thank goodness...this is a sad state when bullying reaches this level.... someone is failing somewhere to educate their children that any form of bullying is not acceptable!!
todays kids have to much time on there hands and no one teaching values =sent them to church for a mouth to help out around the church do some community service and set threw church service that should do it
@Sherry  "...a mouth to help out around the church" = so you're thinking Catholic church, eh?
these bullies need to stop. they're hurting peoples feelings. they should be publicly flogged if they're caught. maybe at a pep rally
Why are people surprised by this? The mainstream media blaming social media is unbelievable. Look at the mainstream media. Fox News reporters calling Obama a Nazi, MSNBC reporters calling Bush a Facist. Gee....wherever do these kids learn to bully others and make inflammatory and untrue statements? hmmmm
@oh4FS FROM THERE PARENTS
another reason I am not on Facebook
that makes 1348 reasons to not participateÂ
then, they age past HS and go on internet news forums where they continue to flame and harrass, make incendiary comments and generally demonstrate their low levels of integrity.
While I'm saddened that such a website exists, the two thoughts that come to mind are;
1) Where are Mom & Dad, and why are they not monitoring juniors computer & internet use?
2) The only difference between this and the average week in any given HS is that here it's posted on the internet. The same things are likely being said anyway, by the same people.Â
It should be taken down, but I don't know that there's really criminal behavior here. Just online demonstration of the fact that many, many teens and young adults lash out and ridicule because of their own insecurities and the behaviors that their breeding pair taught them by example growing up. Big jerks breed and raise little jerks.Â
Society has produced a toxic soup we used to call civilized society. Now they are reaping the consequences of a significant moral decline.
The US is doomed.
That's nothing back in my day back at Salem High we would burn local women and men at the stake simply on the basis of what some teenaged girls said about them....facebook is tame by comparison.  Agness Class of 1651.
I agree I812. This generation of kids either have no parents to guide them and explain the difference between right and wrong or the lame parnets just do not care. Can't imagine there is much to do in Astoria other than drink so I guess most parents are at the bar???? No respect. I bet if there was an easy way to find the IP address and confront these little thoughtless dirtbags and make their (Unaware, don't care) parents accountable it would probably be a little different.
@R.u.Serious? there parents are to busy doing drugs to teach them right from wrong
Possibly kids out of control. Who have no respect for themselves or others. Unless actually caught, nothing will happen to them. To make them accountable for their actions. Society or parts of it seem to have just fallen more and more.
Nasty little brats might sum it up also.
@Just Lookin get rid of the drugs and have more family nights comes to mind
How do you know all of them are on drugs? Some parents might work more than one job, or work nights while the kids play around. Having family nights or days may help, but in the long run the individuals that want to put up sites like this are in trouble. Not legal perhaps, but they need to realize what they are doing.
Their parents need to be responsible for the actions of their children, until they boot them out of the house.
Then the kids or young adults need to be held accountable
The problem is not FB. The problem is the values, morals, and ethics (or lack thereof) that kids are being raised with. Kids who want to bully or tease will find a venue. Many people today have no self respect and if you don't respect yourself you cannot respect anyone else. It is just that simple. Teach kids to value themselves and those around them and it will change the whole dynamic. Bullying has been around forever and it will probably never go away completely but the vast majority of kids won't be bullies with the right morals, ethics, and values.
Of course the other issue is why so many people put so much attention into FB and other (anti)social media. It is a case where they are too immature to understand the difference between using technology to your advantage rather than being driven by technology.Â
I'm so glad I'm not a teenager in today's world. Wouldn't mind being 24 again, though. =)
@badcat .....I'm with ya on that one Badcat.
Evidently the pages have been taken down. Â At least for now!
Social media on the Internet is dangerous.
@Rob C 503 ha are you bosten rob???
@Rob C 503Â Â
When used badly hammers are dangerous; when hammers are used with malevolent intent they are lethal. Just like any inanimate object or tool of man. Â
But Cars are inherently dangerous and when they are lethal in the hands of negligent drivers.
@Rob C 503Â No... Self-entitled spoiled undisciplined little brats on the internet are dangerous. They don't need social media to be scum.
@Peregrine @Rob C 503 no they need a good wack on the pants and some much needed prayer send to church to help out if they have no time to bully people they will learn the real valuesÂ
@Sherry L Campbell Are you for real?? I wen't to a private Christian school back in the day before computers.The same kinda thing happened.Girls were getting pregnant.lots of us were drinking and smoking pot.Instead of Facebook,people would write on the bathroom walls.(at least in the boys room)
@peregrine  that includes adults on the internet too!
@Rob C 503 It can be if used maliciously. People seem to feel much more free to bash and hate people on it. I think it might herald the end of civility myself.
@Rob C 503Â Â
F#$! Off!!
(sarcasm font off)Â :-)Â Â Civility?!?
Back in the early part of the 1900's they used to dress up in sheets and pillowcases to anonymously harass people. Â Thanks to the world of technology, we don't have to clean all that linen anymore! Â *adjusts his avatar*
@negativerep Good analogy.....very good analogy.
I stop burning holes in my linen pillow cases years ago and now just sleep on it.Â