Explicit school pics on Tweeter shocks education department

                                             

AN INCREASE in the number of images of naked and semi-naked schoolgirls on Twitter has sparked concern – with the department of education demanding an investigation.

A quick search by Sunday World this week yielded more than 10 local Twitter accounts filled with explicit and suggestive pictures of South African women and young schoolgirls.

Most of them are exposing their private parts, some are involved in sexual acts and some accounts have pictures of high schoolgirls wearing school uniforms, proudly pulling down their panties and posing suggestively.

Department of basic education spokesman Panyaza Lesufi said they were “alarmed, shocked and dismayed” by the Twitter images.

“We will immediately approach relevant law enforcement authorities to assist us to stamp out this behaviour. We would like to warn any pupil that will be identified wearing a school uniform in compromising positions that the department reserves the right to take any firm action we deem necessary,” he said.

It seems parents are unaware that their children’s naked and suggestive images appear on sites like Twitter. There also appears to be no mechanism to block children’s phones from accessing explicit Twitter accounts.

Experts say stricter policies should be put in place, but the main responsibility lies with parents, as well as the individuals who use these networks.

Twitter’s policy warns you to think twice about what information you make public because it’s easily accessible. They also have an age restriction of 13.

“If we become aware that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we take steps to remove such information and terminate the child’s account.”

They also have guidelines for parents whose teenage children use the site. Users are allowed to block accounts they find offensive.

But Twitter sends users suggestions of other explicit accounts with similar content, to follow.

Jacqui Macway-Wilson, a leading social media expert, said often girls whose pictures end up online did not realise the consequences of their actions.

She says the rule of thumb is: “If you don’t behave a certain way in real life, don’t do it online.”

Macway-Wilson, who is also a former teacher, says it’s important to introduce social media ethics into the school curriculum.

“The youth need to be educated about how to use the platform and how stupid decisions can affect their future. They also need to be taught about cyberbullying and paedophiles pretending to be someone else.

“I agree that social media makes it easier for them to take naked pictures and engage in sexting. But it’s like underage drinking, if they want to do it they will find a way. Parents need to be more vigilant and teach their kids right from wrong because social media is not going away – it’s very much a part of life and as much as it’s bad it is also good as it is a hub of information,” she says.

Macway-Wilson suggests parents download Mobiflock, a SA-developed application for smartphones and tablets that protects children from viewing explicit content which will block Twitter in its entirety.

She says with disturbing trends it seems, most adults also need to be educated on using the medium.

Macway-Wilson said: “Social media is something that was thrust upon us rapidly. So there’s many things we don’t know. We don’t realise that something posted online remains there and is viewed by thousands of people.

“Potential employers look at our online accounts and this may affect your job or prevent you from being hired. Also, people air their dirty linen on these sites. They don’t seem to realise the consequences.”

Technology trends analyst, editor and publisher of Stuff magazine Toby Shapshack says it’s not Twitter’s fault that there is porn on their network.

“People will always find a way to abuse technology. It’s human nature. So to say social media is evil is not true. It’s a debate that has been coming along since VHS and DVDs. Porn will always be there.

“It’s up to the individual whether they want to view the content or not.

“With children, the responsibility lies with the parents, who chose to buy their child that smartphone,” he adds.

Internet Service Providers Association (Ispa) regulatory adviser Dominic Cull says they are working with the police to prevent children from becoming victims of pornographic crimes.

“Ispa accepts the relative ease with which minors in SA are able to access pornographic content online and offline is of concern to society.

“But it is important to remember that the responsibility of dealing with this should be shared by a number of involved parties,” says Cull.

“The SA Police Service has now set up a cyber unit to monitor such content and deal with the perpetrators. Also it’s important that people who see these things report it to the Film and Publication Board and the police,” adds Cull.

Gender activist Lisa Vetten says it’s disturbing that women today still rely on their sexuality and looks to gain approval.

“I’m especially concerned about the young 16- and 17-year-old girls posing on these networks. They don’t realise that when they put something on cyber space it doesn’t disappear.

“It’ s published and it remains there and will come back to haunt them when they are much older.

“There is also the case of disgruntled boyfriends who post very personal images of their former partners. Social media makes it so easy for this disturbing behaviour,” says Vetten.

She says that it’s almost impossible to regulate and monitor these sites.

“We are realising more and more just how dangerous this has become. The fact that these Twitter accounts don’t warn you that you are about to view explicit content is disturbing and shouldn’t be allowed – but who controls that?”

ANC Women’s League spokeswoman Troy Martens said: “It is very disturbing to hear that some of these people are schoolgirls.

“There is a need to protect our children from such pornography and those making and distributing such things should be charged under the Child Protection Act.”