An investigation is underway into an anonymous Instagram account shaming students at Riverdale High School with disparaging comments and rumors.
Montreal police are calling it a cyber-bullying investigation and have dispatched a liaison officer to work with the Pierrefonds school’s administration.
“We are working closely with police,” said Riverdale Principal Matt Canavan, in an interview with CJAD 800. “We are also working with parents and we are working with students.”
Investigators do not know who is behind the account.
“We are doing the best that we can to a) protect the students who are involved and b) make sure that we are ending the situation,” Canavan said.
The Lester B. Pearson School Board learned about the account on Monday and sent an email home to parents asking them to speak with their kids.
“Instagram was also contacted by the school and by parents to shut down the account, but it appears that Instagram feels that it’s abiding by their code of conduct, so it hasn’t been removed yet,” said Jim Hendry, Communications Director for the school board.
Cyber-bullying awareness educator Lissa Albert says the school did the right thing by contacting the authorities after the social media network refused to remove the account.
She says the issue is far more serious that many understand.
“Especially for kids who are so vulnerable psychologically and who are in very tender years, if their self-esteem is already low, it can plummet,” she said.
“It’s a form of emotional abuse.”
Health councillors have been made available to students at Riverdale who have been affected directly or indirectly by the content posted by the account, according the Principal Canavan.
Albert says protecting students starts with prevention, and cannot be done in a reactionary way.
“They know they aren’t supposed to bully, but it still happened,” she said. “Why not teach pro-social skills. Why not teach them to be respectful digital citizens before they end up in a situation like this.”
The school is using this as a teaching opportunity.
“What we are trying to change is kids understanding of social media and this very fast moving experience,” Canavan said.
He admitted the ordeal has taken a toll on the school, but he has been impressed with the support the students have shown one another.
“I believe the school is going to come out stronger for the experience,” he said. “You’re seeing some unexpected support between the students.”