Students using fake Instagram accounts to bully other children

Students are using fake Instagram accounts to bully their peers and destroy reputations, experts claim. 

The cruel use of social media is growing with more young children using ‘finsta’ (fake Instagram) accounts to target other students.

The sick impersonators mimic real accounts of young teenagers to bully other children.

The cruel use of social media is growing with more young children using ‘finsta’ (fake Instagram) accounts to target other students (stock image)

The sick impersonators create fake Instagram accounts, mimicking real accounts of young teenagers (stock image)

One impersonator reportedly wrote a 14-year-old girl’s initials in the bio section of the account, to ‘add credibility to the account’ before humiliating her (stock image)

The impersonators use similar usernames and photos in the finsta accounts but write harmful words which can damage the future of those being targeted.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant said a 14-year-old girl was just one of the victims of finsta accounts, ABC News reported.

The impersonator reportedly wrote the girl’s initials in the bio section of the account, to ‘add credibility to the account’.

In the finsta bio, the bully included the ‘name of a boy she had a crush on, and who didn’t like her back’.

‘Sometimes they’re uploading other images or memes, they’re making negative comments on their friend’s posts and sometimes they’ll even reveal a child’s phone number or school,’ Ms Inman-Grant said.

‘We have seen a 133 per cent spike in cyberbullying reports from young people over the first two weeks of February when kids have been going back to school. Obviously that’s of concern.’ 

Bullies are manipulating children into sharing their social media passwords by questioning their friendship, suggesting they aren’t best friends if passwords aren’t shared.

Bullies are manipulating children into sharing their social media passwords by questioning their friendship, suggesting they aren’t best friends if passwords aren’t shared (stock image)

Cyberbully sparked national attention after 14-year-old Amy ‘Dolly’ Everett – once the face of Akubra (pictured) – took her own life in January after being relentlessly bullied online

This type of cyber bullying is used for lengthy periods which slowly takes away the victim’s confidence. 

In February alone, the eSafety Commissioner said cyber bullying reports had increased 133 per cent. 

Cyberbully sparked national attention after 14-year-old Amy ‘Dolly’ Everett – once the face of Akubra – took her own life in January after being relentlessly bullied online.  

The young teenager’s family began a nation-wide movement encouraging victims of harassment to ‘speak now, even if your voice shakes’. 

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800      

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk