AIBU to worry after DS10 was blocked by several classmates?

[Sprostongreeen]

DS10 has been blocked on WhatsApp by a few of his friend group.

last week he was trying to message one of them and noticed that messages weren’t going through. He then noticed that their photo was missing on their profile. He then noticed this had happened with 3 of them on the class chat. I have one of them as a contact but the photo was still showing on mine).

he has no idea why they have blocked him: I’ve had a look through his messages and he wasn’t doing anything before they blocked him (ie no arguing, being nasty, spamming with nonsense) in fact, there has barely been any online comms for a few weeks between them.

during the holidays he suggested a meet up one night between those friends and they all declined and then apparently discussed it on the class chat, where another classmate called them out and the posts were deleted before DS could see it.

im just fed up of the passive aggressive behavior to my son: it’s not the full group of friends (many aren’t online). I’m concerned about this impacting his confidence or mental health longer term.

any advice as to how to support him

And yet, HERE you are.

Calling people pointing out that social media, especially WhatsApp, has been reaearched and proven to be very halrmful to children "pearl clutching" shows you are not taking in any advice and doubling down on the situation you've allowed to happen.

Safeguarding is NOT "pearl clutching".

Just because something is available doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.

You have seen this for yourself.

And yet here you are arguing against everyone. Not sure why you posted as you don’t seem to want to take advice.

Headline today OP. Seems you're not willing to parent and want to be best friends instead.

Not normal at all. You do not need to track him. You don’t actually need to talk to him on the way to school but if you insist- get a brick Nokia.
With respect I’m astounded at how unaware you seem to be to the problems of smartphone use! Check out some of the smartphone free childhood organisations for some excellent ( and terrifying) information - good luck.

Interesting. My youngest dc was in year 5 a couple of years ago. One child had a phone and the parents were viewed very poorly as a result. I know quite a few year 8 kids still with Nokias, mine included. Many year 8/9 parents massively regret early smartphone use and it’s now affected their dc but is much harder to remove.
It’s really not pearl clutching to be resistant to smart phone use. The problems are very real as you have discovered but seemingly failed to acknowledge!

The done thing now is for kids to have an old brick type phone and no smartphone if they absolutely need to contact you. At age 10 though, he is too young for any time of phone.

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should!