Gossip, slander and rivalry: Geelong school TikTok cyber-bullies exposed

Concerning TikTok pages are fuelling cyber-bullying trends among Geelong students, it can be revealed, with videos being watched by hundreds of thousands of users.

TikTok pages allegedly run by Geelong students are localising cyber-bullying trends, asking users to ”send in gossip” aimed at fellow students.

Geelong students are using TikTok to perpetuate “distressing” cyber-bullying trends, and the videos are being watched by hundreds of thousands of users.

The revelation has boosted calls for social media to introduce age limits.

A Geelong Advertiser investigation has found at least 15 TikTok pages employing bullying practices including shaming named students for smelling; listing students based on good looks; and discussing the relationship status of others.

“It’s pretty cowardly for unnamed people to be ruining the names of others in such an open fashion, especially young school kids who don’t have the capacity to defend themselves,” said Dany Elachi, co-founder of the Heads Up Alliance.

“Stories like this are just going to keep popping up and we hope that the government is listening.”

Some of the TikToks have received hundreds of thousands of views.

TikTok pages such as “Geelong.ships”, “Ghs.yr.7.ships” ask commenters to reveal the relationship status of fully named students, most as young as 12.

Ships is Gen Z slang for relationship.

Other pages – including “GeelongGorgeous2”, “Geelong.preties.stuff”, and “prettygirlsgeelong” – follow the TikTok trend of reposting dancing videos of “pretty high school girls”.

Other sites attack specific students with their photos and captions such as “when you walk past this girl you might wanna hold your breath”.

TikTok pages are following the trend of posting “pretty” high school girls online.

Inter-school rivalries are also encouraged, with “GeelongSchools” sharing “honest thoughts” on rivals by using eshays, junkie uniforms, hot boy uniforms and gay to describe certain schools.

“Geelong High School” posted a video of students throwing a fellow student in the air, with the comment “these Joeys boys are on smt (something)”.

The video received almost 370,000 views.

Some sites, including “Geelong High Schools”, have more than 350,000 views.

It comes as the eSafety Commissioner received 2978 verified cyber-bullying complaints in 2024, a 455 per cent increase since 2019.

Of these, 35 per cent of the cases targeted students, aged 12 and 13.

Up to 1385 reports related to children, aged 13 or younger.

A parent took to Facebook saying Northern Bay College students had been using “GeelongOpps” to target and harass peers, causing “significant emotional distress and harm to those affected”.

Opps is shortening for “opponent”.

The account has now deleted all content while other accounts continue to focus on “ops and bops”, meaning “slut”.

The parent, who did not want to be named, said the “unsettling situation” had been reported to authorities, including TikTok.

“Regrettably, there has not yet been a satisfactory resolution,” they said.

TikTok pages allegedly run by Geelong students are localising cyber-bullying trends, asking users to ”send in gossip” aimed at fellow students.

An education department spokeswoman said bullying or harassment was unacceptable, and schools would take appropriate disciplinary action against involved students.

The department refused to comment on specific pages.

“Young people’s online safety is everyone’s responsibility,” the spokeswoman said.

“Schools play an important part in addressing disrespectful behaviour.

“Parents, carers and the wider community also play a critical role in modelling respectful behaviours.”

She said the nation-leading ban on mobile phones for students during school hours aimed to help prevent issues such as cyber-bullying and harassment.

The federal government has passed a bill that will see social media age limits being introduced next year.

Mr Elachi said the ban could not come soon enough.

“We don’t have the full details around that ban but we’re expecting that the government won’t provide loopholes,” he said.

TikTok failed to comment.

Originally published as Gossip, slander and rivalry: Geelong school TikTok cyber-bullies exposed