WhatsApp

[VenchiIceCream]

My son is in year 8, he has a handful of close friends as contacts in his phone. Has been adamant that he didn’t want adding to a Class WhatsApp group. He has been added by the child that bullies him and then a really unflattering photo has been added of him by this other child 10 times on the group. My son is mortified that most of the rest of the class has seen it. He has obviously exited the group and blocked. I screenshot it before doing so, this shows who was in the group, who added my son and who put the photos up multiple times. Should the school be approached about this or should I speak with the parents of the boy who did it?

Honestly, this is why social media is not for 12 year olds. I would take the phone away removed the app and reintroduce at 13 or older. How would Whatsapp be of benefit to him now? The groups always seem to have bullies.

Regarding the bullying, I would email the school with the screenshot and ask them to deal with it under their digital bullying policy.

That is what happens on SM it is a curse

DS had whatsapp in yr 7/8 all sorts of issues and he has had it removed and has a brick phone now in yr9.

Yes, tell the school. Consent is a key part of GDPR.

At this age approach school. Same things have happened to our family. Don’t go to the kids family, that will cause too much issues. School can do a reminder about kindness online etc. I think you mean a ‘sticker’? They all do this, and yes, an unflattering one always gets a bit more attention. At 8 it’s a school thing, imho.

None of those children including yours, OP, should have a smartphone at 12 years old! For this very bloody reason.

The WhatsApp app was only for our family use. iMessage is used for his friends but I get what you are saying about removing WhatsApp. I have no idea how he even got his number. I guess one of his friends must have passed it on for whatever reason. Will approach the school. Does sound like a sticker, yes.

Have you changed his settings so he can't be added to groups by people?

Yes, tell the school. My DD's school banned class WhatsApp groups for this reason. It worked. I actually don't know how they got it to work 😁 but it did.

I have now. Thank you!

Hi,
Firstly, sorry he is upset by it. That's horrible. Kids can be mean.

Just a reassurance though I've noticed when checking my kids WhatsApp that they are ALWAYS sending each other these stickers of "mugs" ( slightly unflattering photos of one another).

They find it funny. Not sure why. There are some very strange photos "stickers" of my kids being shared amongst friends but they just laugh about it.

I just wanted to reassure you and your son that it may not have been done out of malice. I hope that's the case here.

That being said, WhatsApp groups with whole classes/year groups are a nightmare and i don't allow them to join until they're mature enough.

Why on earth has a 12 year old got a phone?!

Because they are at secondary school in a remote area and the public transport is hugely unreliable. Is that ok with you? 🙄

Contact the head of year today, before the end of the school day so they can deal with this before the half term starts. Email them directly with the screenshots you've taken. I used to be a head of year and dealt with this kind of situation far too often. Don't approach the parents, an effective school will follow through with their behaviour policy and sanctions will be put in place (talking to parents will be part of this).

Plenty do, stop being a snowflake and get with the times.

@Neighbourproblem25 every 12 year old I know has a phone, with no pay phones around they need them in case of transport issues etc.

Yes but it really doesn't need to be a smartphone.