Girls as young as 12 are falling victim to a sick new craze sweeping across Australian schools that sees fellow students forcing cameras under their clothing and sharing the videos online.
The horrifying trends known as ‘upskirting’ and ‘downblousing’ involves cameras being forced up unwitting girls’ skirts and down their tops before the images are uploaded to the internet in the latest form of cyber-bullying.
NSW Schools have moved to crack down on the issue, reminding pupils they would face criminal charges if found to have circulated explicit content of someone without their consent, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Young girls are falling victim to a sick new craze sweeping across Australian schools that sees fellow students forcing cameras under clothing and sharing the videos online (stock image)
The trends, known as ‘upskirting’ and ‘downblousing’, involves cameras being forced up unwitting girls’ skirts and down their tops before the images are uploaded to the internet in the latest form of cyber-bullying (stock image)
In a bid to tackle the problem, the office of the eSafety commissioner is in the process of launching a website that would allow victims to report any incident of online abuse.
ESafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant revealed the volume of complaints was rapidly growing over images taken with or without consent.
‘Being a victim of image-based abuse can be a devastating and humiliating experience, especially so for a young person,’ she said.
Cyber safety expert Ross Bark, who works with NSW schools in trying to prevent such issues, revealed the internet is promoting the sick craze to children.
ESafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant (pictured) revealed the volume of complaints was rapidly growing over images taken with or without consent as NSW Schools have moved to ensure students are fully aware of the legal consequences if caught
‘There is a very twisted genre of YouTube videos that are teaching children highly inappropriate behaviour,’ he said.
In another rising trend, twisted children are photoshopping peers’ faces onto pornographic images.
‘It’s a digital monkey see, monkey do, there’s the usual developing sexual curiosity, combined with a lack of maturity on how to responsibly use these technologies,’ psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg said.
NSW Secondary Principals’ Council president Chris Presland has said he hopes children will soon realise the severe punishments associated with such behaviour from police will act as a deterrent in schools.