School texting smear
Elite Grammar students victims of explicit fake images
Students at a prestigious South East Queensland boys school have been the target of a sexting scandal which depicted them sending “unacceptable and inappropriate” material.
Fake images of three Toowoomba Grammar School students who appeared to send sext messages online have been shared on a fake TikTok account.
The video posed as the school and included screenshots of Snapchat conversations with students and another in school uniform.
Images of two students that were shared on the account contained sexually explicit captions. The account has since been deleted.
Headmaster Dr John Kinniburgh said the school was concerned by “inappropriate” TikTok posts from fake accounts which were “purporting” to be linked to Grammar students.
Dr Kinniburgh said the school had reviewed samples of the post but said the involvement of the students in the creation of these posts could not be substantiated.
However, Dr Kinniburgh said the school was aware of other fake social media accounts involving students and confirmed action had previously been taken.
“These posts are totally unacceptable and are not aligned with the school’s teachings or values,” Dr Kinniburgh said in a statement. “We share in the community’s disappointment in relation to any inappropriate social media posts and that individuals would seek to harm the wellbeing and reputation of members of the school community by linking them to such content.
“We educate our students through our pastoral care program, and in partnership with parents, to raise awareness of the issues young people are facing today, including respectful relationships and the appropriate use of social media and cyber safety.”
Queensland University of Technology masculinity expert Professor Michael Flood said posts like those shared stemmed from a broader cultural issue of women being seen as sexual objects.
Professor Flood stressed that the toxic masculinity traits were certainly not universal.
“There is a broader culture that some boys and young men are only seeing women as sexual objects,” he said.
These posts are totally unacceptable and are not aligned with the school’s teachings or values Dr John Kinniburgh School headmaster