12 year old ds disturbing Google search

[SusanSHelit]

I have just checked my voicemail this evening and had a message from 12yo ds head of year (y7) about 'something offensive which was picked up by smoothwall on the school laptop while he was logged in'. In the voicemail the hoy said that no requirement for a set of educational sessions and that he assured her it was a one off.

The message didn't detail what was picked up. I obviously had a conversation with ds about this and first he said he didn't remember what he typed. Then a few minutes later he revealed that he typed in 'is it illegal to put an animal in a blender?'

Im honestly really shocked and very disappointed. I would never have expected this from him. His father and I are separated and have been for a few years and he has pets in both houses (gerbils in his dad's, a cat at mine).

I've spoken to his dad about this, we have a pretty good coparenting relationship. Ds is going to his dad's after school tomorrow as I'm working nights for three nights from tomorrow. I'm going to call the school in the morning obviously but I don't even know where to begin with this.

Ds said he was just messing about with his friends but that he would even think about this has really disturbed me. He's a good kid at home, and this seems very out of the blue. He didn't say his friends typed it in, he said he did.

He's been banned from his PlayStation tonight and I've taken his phone too. I don't know if he will be allowed these in his dad's tomorrow

Exactly that. I'm a boring grandma, but I've looked up all kinds of weird things simply because they've come up in daft conversations or stimulated by something random. It has occurred to me that if I died and my kids opened my laptop and started typing, all kinds of mad things might auto-suggest! They'll wonder who on earth their mum was!

I wouldn't be concerned unless there are other disturbing behaviours.. They are 12. 12 year olds discuss really silly things. My kids used to watch a YouTube channel where they blended all sorts of things ( not animals), we watched it a few times with them, amusing for kids!

So I posted this a few hours ago, but there has been something niggling at me. I'm kind of assuming that you've heard about Jools Law? Jools was 14 when he died whilst doing a Tiktok prank/dare. His mother, Ellen Roome, has just won a change to legislation, enabling parents to access social media history after a child's death.

This is obviously the extreme, and I would imagine that the OPs son's search was just a curiosity, but it does pay to keep ears to the ground, and I'm sure that the teachers are not only well aware as to potential harm, but feel under enormous pressure.

You don’t see this as a big deal? WTF is wrong with you?!

Please do not leave your son un attended with any animals,he cant be trusted. This is truly shocking 😲

Most likely 11 year olds being silly boys. However, the teachable moment might be tgat he considers his digital footprint.

Please don't be perturbed - it is just a bot of silliness - 12 year olds go in for silliness!

Has he recently seen the Gremlins films?

You’re really applying a lot of context to this that isn’t there. He didn’t need to google it to see if it’s abhorrent, he wanted to google it to see if it’s illegal, they’re not the same.

I think he’s going to have some thoughts and questions at some point, and if he’s worried you think he or his thoughts are abhorrent he’s not going to come to you. A thought is just a thought, you can’t control them, you can teach him not to act on them though (ie googling something stupid on a school computer)

I would definitely be concerned and be aware of any other issues but I wouldn’t punish him over it.

I think it’s good you spoke to him in a mature way about the Internet being a dark place etc.

I have googled a lot of mad things and I’m genuinely not a sick person.

Kids are curious and one google search does not point towards an unhealthy interest.
But I don’t blame you to have been shocked and worried.

I think if most of the population were to have google searches read out we’d face psychological evaluations.
Growing up I remember some of the boys I was friends with looking at corpses or beheading videos for shock factor. Kids say and do such daft shit.

Either this is typical of him and he’s a psychopath, or he was just messing about with his friends and you need to give the kid a break.

Not arguing for or against your view but why did the head ring the parent if not concerning? Is there something that says they have to under these types of circumstances or do you know? Thanks!

What a benchmark!

You know your son. He’s a nice boy.
no other signs of being a sociopath. He’s 12. Boys that’s age are nuts, he probably thought it’d make his friends laugh. doesn’t mean anything. Let it go.

In the Gremlins movie one of the gremlins gets put in a liquidiser if I remember correctly - they were evil little critters -started off as cute mogwais but changed if ? In contact with water -you could prob find the clip online if you looked

Completely agree.

When I was a teenager (in the Dark Ages) “baby in a blender” was a thing doing the rounds at school. If the internet had been available, I’m sure I would have googled it. I have never, ever, in real life, had the urge to put anything living in a blender. Don’t worry OP

I really don't see why you've made this into a big deal. I Google all kinds of weird questions, it doesn't mean I'm going to do weird things, I'm just curious.

I don't understand what the poor boy is in trouble for.

But he didn’t do anything other than type something into google? No indication of intent to actually harm an animal, or even watch harmful content?

If he is otherwise a good kid, it seems like teenage silliness, really can’t see why it’s that serious.

I don’t think it’s that deep, having spent a lot of time with year 7 boys last year at work, that’s very mild. He’s just being daft with his mates in IT I think 🤔.

That made me laugh. Unless he's shown disturbing behaviour, it's just kids pissing about. Do get a grip or the teenage years will finish you off.

I google all sorts of random shit. This sounds like a non enemy unless he has form for weird aggressive behaviour.

I’m glad you clarified it op. But honestly, that search made me laugh. The head and you overreacted.

I don’t think he’s done anything wrong at all.

Would you have punished him if he’d asked you instead of searching?

If not, what exactly is he being punished for?