School warns parents over social media posts
PUPILS RECEIVING INAPPROPRIATE IMAGES
A HUDDERSFIELD high school has issued a warning to parents about ‘offensive comments’ being posted on social media by some pupils and the risks posed by strangers on platforms such as Snapchat.
Royds Hall Academy in Paddock is the latest school to caution parents about children’s use of social media and the risks posed to their safety. Several Huddersfield schools have issued similar advice and guidance.
In a letter to parents, Royds Hall Academy said it was dealing with a rise in problems associated with social media among its youngest, aged 11 to 12 year old pupils. The letter also warned parents that some students had reported being asked for ‘inappropriate images’ on Snapchat.
The letter said: “Unfortunately, I must write to inform you that we are currently experiencing an increase in the number of incidents involving inappropriate use and offensive comments on social media, made by Year 7 students.
“When an incident is reported, we investigate fully. In some cases, we report incidents to the police, depending on the nature and severity of an incident.”
The letter said phones had already been banned from being used within school, but there had been a rise in incidents away from school and linked to social media.
It continued: “The increase in incidents is primarily coming from Year 7 students, many who are too young to have accounts on the actual social media platforms where reported incidents are coming from.”
“Recently, we are experiencing incidents where students are reporting to us that ‘random people are adding them’ and engaging in inappropriate conversations, asking for inappropriate images and the creating of false accounts to engage in conversation and/or initiate conflict. As a school we are very concerned about this, as students are placing themselves at potential risk.”
The school urged parents to monitor social media platforms being used by their children.
The school’s letter added: “We need all parents to work with us and ensure that their child/children are not accessing platforms that they are legally not allowed to access.”