Bullying messages on WhatsApp dd10

[Opinionsprettyplease]

Tell me if I'm being OTT here.
10yr old DD received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number at the weekend. TERRIFYING profile pic (think skinned animal) and a message telling her ( by name) that she'd better run run run run run. She was absolutely terrified. I (also a bit shaken but didn't show!) reported and blocked, didn't think to take a screenshot first. Then unblocked to try to see the message again, and another message came through; a photo of a classmate (call her Ann), though it wasn't Ann's number. Dd then reckoned that it was a another classmate, a friend of Ann (call him Billy) and that he had got dd's number from Ann. She messaged Ann on Just Talk saying "that wasn't funny, I was really scared", and Ann said she didn't know anything about it, and didn't know Billy's number for dd to check. So despite me bluffing her that it was just a random mistake, dd was v scared. She's anxious anyway.
Back to school today and Ann admitted that it was Billy; she had been there with him at the time and it was all a big joke. Dd then agreed with them that it was funny.
I don't agree!!!!! And would love to report them to give them a fright and to warn them off dd for good. Is that over the top? I don't imagine I would get far with the school as I don't have screenshots (WhatsApp delete when you block) so would have to report to gardai? I presume they could access the messages? Would I be laughed out of the station?
What would you do?
(For anyone wondering why on earth all these kids have phones with numbers, they are I'd say the only three kids in the class with them. Dd's reasons long and unrelated!)
Thank you 🙌

I think you would struggle with reporting given you have allowed a child who is underage for WhatsApp to have access to it.

I know you say your DD has her reasons for needing a phone but what justification is it for the phone to be a smart one and apps she shouldn’t be on (for this kind of reason? I would chalk this up to a parenting experience and lock down the phone.

WhatsApp doesn't delete when you block IME

10 year old shouldn't have it though, uninstall it and it can never happen again. You're exposing her to much worse by having access to apps she's far too young to use.

They're all too young to have access to unsupervised phones. Take it away until she's older. I know you say she needs it, but she's open to this kind of behaviour..

What would you do?

Delete all social media and lock down her phone via WIFI and phone apps.

School shouldn't have to waste loads of time investigating bullying on whatsapp. Particularly primary school!

Get rid of whatsapp. Ideally get rid of the smartphone.

And all your saying is exactly why children shouldn’t have phones or access to SM etc…

Point proved!

Yeah it’s almost like ten year olds shouldn’t have WhatsApp.

I would be talking to the parents.
I qiuld be horrified to knoq my kod was tormenting someone.
All kids no matrer what age put apps that they are supposed to not be using.
I would tell her to talk to you if it contuines, I would talk to the teacher.
So they are aware of the goings on, nonsense, whats happening in school.
Any form of bullying is not ok.
Children tood to delete may do, then whats next, pretend they do not use it? .
Teach them boundries & acceptable behavouirs, to seek help.

My DS twins recently joined a class WhatsApp group and this resulted in someone privately messaging one to forward messages of her conversations and arguments with other girls in their class. I removed WhatsApp (big mistake in the first place which I learnt from) and they just have the phone for calling me and text messages. There was protest for about a day or two but they've forgotten now and don't even miss it. WhatsApp is the number one platform for bullying, far worse than any other social media app.

This is all fair and I needed to hear it! I honestly don't know why I didn't see it this way. What's app gone 👍
Thank you

Or don’t allow them to have SM and actually parent properly and ensure it doesn’t happen?

This child is 10, she does not need a smart phone or indeed probably any phone!

The primary school should be telling the parent to ensure the phone does not interfere with the school day and not to be taken into school. They should not have to deal with the fall out from inept parents to indulging their children with phones and apps they’re too young f to deal with.