Editorial: Time to see consequences of vile actions
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POLICE are investigating after the creation of a Facebook page posting explicit photos of Bendigo teenagers.
The page – titled “Bendigo’s biggest sluts” – was created on Friday, a week after a page titled “Bendigo Hotties” raised concerns that underage girls were having their photos used without consent.
Anger over the Facebook page erupted quickly, with reported threats of violence toward the page’s creator on Friday night.
A number of people who contacted the Bendigo Advertiser said some of the photos shown on the page were of girls as young as 13 years old.
Teresa, who did not want her surname used, said she was revolted and disturbed that people were being victimised.
“My little cousin is 14 and has been made a target on this page,” she said.
“It’s disgusting that people are allowed to create pages like this.”
Within hours of the “Bendigo’s biggest sluts” page being created, it had generated more than 1000 “likes”.
Teresa said a few people had quickly identified the creator of the page and threatened to cause “a scuffle” before police were notified.
“Once a few people found out who it was, they were furious,” she said.
“But police did get involved.”
Police yesterday interviewed one person in relation to the page.
Constable Grace Macloy said the identity of the suspect could not be released for legal reasons and that the investigation was ongoing.
Teresa said the page was similar to the “Bendaz Root Rate” page and equally troubling for girls who were being written about and harrassed.
The two creators of the “Root Rate” page that rated people’s sexual performance received prison terms, later reduced to community corrections orders.
Jacinta Sherlock commented on the “Bendigo’s biggest sluts” page that the comments being made were extremely hurtful and “degrading to Bendigo”.
“Everyone always talks about bullies and suicide and how it should stop and whatnot. This isn’t helping,” she wrote.
The creator of the Bendigo Hotties Facebook page also weighed in, posting that there was “way too much bullying and bitching going on, Bendigo, you should feel ashamed”.
The “Bendigo’s biggest sluts” was deleted by the creator Friday night but could still be viewed.