NZ teen targeted in hate campaign
Online hate campaign leaves girl, 13, traumatised:
13-year-old Johnelle Hosking of New Zealand had a hate campaign against her posted on the social networking site Bebo by some of the kids she went to school with.
The profile titled Johnelle Haters!!!, featured a photo of Johnelle, 13, with the word “slut” in red plastered across the bottom.
Derogatory comments followed and visitors to the site - many unknown to Johnelle - were invited to join in by adding their own hateful messages.
School students from both intermediate and local colleges accused Johnelle of things she didn’t do, called her names and, worst of all, ridiculed her for the world to see.
Johnelle, who has courageously spoken to the Bay of Plenty Times about her ordeal, does not have a computer at home and was told about the hate page by her best friend.
Her friend’s mother contacted Johnelle’s mum with print-outs from the site.
“Mum didn’t let me see it,” Johnelle said.
“I have seen bits, it’s just gross because I know it’s not true and by doing it they (people who visit the site) think it is. I had no idea,” she said. “It hurt me in many ways”.
Johnelle’s parents Megan and Darryll Hosking are appalled by the behaviour of the student who set up the site.
They say many parents are oblivious to what their children are capable of doing on the internet and the implications that follow.
How many times do I have to say it? It’s 10 o’clock. Do you know what your kids are doing on the internet?
Tags: Bebo, cyberbullying, new-zealndRelated Stories
POSTED IN: School
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