Fight planned on website
Internet Safety Educator
4 Comments
A potential fight involving up to 80 children, some as young as 11, was averted by police in the UK, after they received a tip.
Riot police were called on Saturday afternoon after reports a brawl had been orchestrated by children from 3 different schools, who used the social networking website Bebo, as well as emails, mobile phones and text messages to plan the brawl.
Bebo said it had not been contacted by the police regarding the incident.
A spokeswoman said: "We would, of course, assist immediately with any investigation. "Illegal and inappropriate communications are in direct contradiction of our strict terms of use."
Children were said to be carrying metal bars, wood, baseball bats and bicycle chains to use as weapons.
The initial group of children assembled at a playing field, but dispersed as police units arrived at the scene.
Reader Comments (4)
I wouldn't really blame social sites for this it would of happened anyway, a friend calling a friend etc, this happened to a school i know and it didn't end up very well the building had smashed windows a lot of people hurt even the staff that worked their.
Not long ago though they told older kids to wait for the younger kids because their was other schools outside, which wasn't a good idea they picked up wooden posts, metal the lot.
Hi Mike,
I'm not quite clear what you mean. The story I wrote about, is it the same school you are referring to? Or are you talking about another incident??
There are numerous problems here. First of all, if you simply call up one of your friends to start a fight, or be involved in one, then only that person you are talking to(unless u are on a conference type call), will hear. Then you can call another person then another. On a social networking site, you can post that information, potentially, for MANY people to see, unless it is private. And so on and so on.
Its a different incident, but it isn't like that with mobile phones now, if you're in a fight they call someone who has 'connections' which ends up with a lot of people involved and it can start from one phone call not a conference.
Oh, gottcha!! Thanks, Mike!! Happy to see you!