A school has issued a warning to parents after numerous children were targeted on social media.
The youngsters – believed to be in Year 6 – were sent death threats and body-shaming messages by unknown persons in recent days.
St Michael’s Primary School, in Larkhill, issued an urgent warning to parents, suggesting they should not have access to the social media platforms in question – Snapchat and WhatsApp.
On 1 February, headteacher Nicky Phillips wrote “We have been made aware since the newsletter went out on Friday, of a number of pupils who have received unpleasant messages on WhatsApp and Snapchat groups.
“It has also come to our attention that there is an additional issue as messages that appear to come from a child’s phone number are actually being sent by a third party.
“I have sought advice from the police, as this is a safeguarding matter, children under the age of 13 should not have these accounts. The groups need to be shut down immediately and children removed from them.
“This is a parenting issue and it is up to parents to monitor children’s activity on phones and ensure new groups are not set up.
“If your child has received messages or photos that have caused upset and/or offence, then please report this to the police immediately.”
