SA Police slammed for TikTok response after videos bully Adelaide students

A fierce former cop and cyber safety expert says SA Police should be prosecuting bullies who target young female students.

One of the country’s leading cyber safety experts has slammed SA Police over its lack of response to cyberbullying after shocking videos emerged this week.

Susan McLean, known as “cyber cop”, said recent derogatory videos posted on TikTok about high school students in Adelaide were “abhorrent” and called on police to do more to assist the teenagers targeted.

Ms McLean, who was a police officer for 27 years, said she repeatedly received complaints from people who had reported cyberbullying in SA.
“(They) have tried to report cyberbullying and other online criminal offences and have been fobbed off,” she said.

“The fact (the videos) has occurred and caused harm it means the crime is complete.

Cybersafety expert and educator Susan McLean. Picture: File

Salisbury High School was engulfed in the vile TikTok controversy. Picture: TikTok

“When you look at the harm and tragic outcomes that can happen, who is an individual police officer to say ‘toughen up princess’?

“Cyberbullying is a jailable offence … it’s a really serious thing and needs to be investigated.”

Ms McLean conceded reports needed to be made to police by the victim of any cyberbullying for it to be investigated, but said they could help schools track down the anonymous users behind the accounts.

An SA Police spokesperson told The Messenger it was generally not its responsibility.

“SA Police does not generally investigate cyberbullying, unless substantive offences are identified,” they said.

“Activity that constitutes cyberbullying is broad and can range from unwanted or nuisance behaviour to criminal offending.

“The term ‘substantive offence’ refers to an act or omission which constitutes a criminal offence under South Australian legislation. SAPOL will investigate matters relating to criminal offending.

“SAPOL works with the community in delivering crime prevention programs in a wide range of areas, including cyber bullying.”

SA Police was asked how many cyberbullying complaints had been received and investigated in the past 12 months but the spokesperson did not respond.

Ms Inman Grant said she sympathised with students who had been targeted.

“Content that demeans, belittles or objectifies someone is never okay – and my heart goes out to any young person who feels that way because of content circulating online,” she said.

“Sometimes, young people may not realise how cruel, isolating and damaging this kind of content can be.”

The Messenger has viewed hundreds of TikTok videos — spanning the past year — targeting students across several SA schools, rating them on their “hotness”, guessing who they are based on derogatory descriptions and sharing exposing photos of their bodies.

The accounts typically use a school’s logo and name to form their profile.

The parents of a year 8 student who appeared on her school’s “biggest sl**s” list said the harassment was wearing her down.