What to do about this?

[somewhereovertheroad]

Dd who is 14 has come home really upset about a rumour that has been started about her.

It was started on a bus of boys her age going to a sports event and has now spread to school. It's also on social media.

She is devastated and doesn't want to go to school or her own sports.

The options are (1) ignore it and it will be old news in a few days.

(2) contact the boys sports club child protection officer and make a complaint.

(3) contact the school.

I am considering (2) but I am worried that anybody who hasn't heard the rumours definitely will if I make a complaint.

I really don't know what to do. It's very difficult to get the truth out once a rumour has started.

I would value any advice.

2 and 3.

This is happening in school and the school needs to come down hard on this.
They will have policies in place about cyber bullying and hopefully a policy about behaviour on trips.

Unfortunately the rumour is out there and ignoring it won't help.

Make sure that you have screen shots of social media and if the school doesn't come down hard enough on this then the police can be involved due to the Malicious Communications Act.

Would you contact the school even if your Dd didn't want you to.

Yes but I would sit her down and calmly explain why. She's worried about the very short term ramifications but as the adult you want to protect her and that means helping her to weather this particularly tricky time but also beyond and there is nothing to stop this escalating or coming on to school grounds. The school need to know have propose a plan to support DD. I would make it clear that the school have a duty to protect her and say you want her to be heard. Arrange a meeting and bring her with you. Show them the social media.

yes