How social media is fueling a disturbing new trend in Australian schools that is putting parents and teachers on edge
- Schoolyard fights are posted online
- Videos are posted in private groups
- They show children attacking each other
An underground fight club is erupting on social media with children filming each other in ‘gruesome’ schoolyard brawls across Australia.
Social media groups are being started by students from private and public schools where videos are posted of boys and girls arguing or ambushing victims.
It’s part of a disturbing trend that has gained popularity online and now concerned experts are stepping in to try and change the culture and help prevent lifelong trauma for the victims of this violence.
The existence of these private online groups came into the national spotlight last month when footage circulated of a 13-year-old girl in Queensland allegedly being tortured by other girls for hours.
“I think we’re pretty desensitized to violence and fighting and physically hurting each other,” child psychologist Andrew Greenfield told The Project on Monday.
The existence of these private online groups came into the national spotlight last month when footage circulated of a 13-year-old girl in Queensland allegedly being tortured by other girls for hours (pictured)
“That worries me a lot because the message it sends out is that it’s okay not only to be involved, but also okay to watch and be a bystander and not do anything about it.
‘We don’t want to make it too simple and only focus on the symptom, but it’s also about the underlying reason.’
School board consultant Simon Dewar believes social media platforms should do more to shut down content and prevent children from ruining their futures and the lives of others.
“Social media platforms have a big part to play in this, they can definitely do more I think,” Mr Dewar said.
“But other than that, I don’t think we can wait for social media platforms to take over and make things better.
“So as a community we can do a lot.”
The former principal who now advises teachers and school leaders on how to reduce violence in schools said the long-term effects of regularly viewing such violent content will be “significant”.
Private social media groups are created by students from private and public schools where videos are posted of boys and girls fighting or ambushing victims (two examples are pictured)
An underground fight club erupts on social media with children filming each other in ‘gruesome’ bare-knuckle brawls in schoolyards across Australia (an example is pictured)
Child psychologist Andrew Greenfield (left) and director-advisor, Simon Dewar (right) speak out about the disturbing new trend
“Unfortunately, we see that young people are generally more violent and those violent acts vary,” Mr Dewar said.
‘Although it’s not every student, every school, every day; what it might feel like is that there’s an increase because we’re seeing it through our social feeds.”
In Victoria alone, more than 130 fights involving children and teens have been posted on an infamous Instagram page.
The brawls show horrific violence, including gang bashing, head stomps and teens being punched and kicked on the floor.
“It is very worrying because the images are getting more and more violent and the young victims in these videos are sometimes bloodied and begging for help,” a senior police officer told police. Announce sun.
“It has to stop, because I fear someone will be seriously injured in one of these fights.”