BAKERSFIELD, CA- A controversial account on Twitter has many local high school students upset and feeling victimized. 17 News won't name the account, which contains unverified and sexually explicit accusations about local teens.
The account had more than 3,500 followers Wednesday, but the account has been deactivated Thursday morning. Many parents have said this is another outlet for cyberbullying.
For many people, Twitter is a social media website used for making connections and keeping in touch with friends. But for some, Twitter is used for a different reason.
"This is a very cruel thing and we are very concerned for our students and their parents and the kind of pain they're going through," said John Teves a spokesman for the Kern High School District.
The account on Twitter, that we have chosen not to name, claims to expose secrets about high school students, and it's done anonymously.
Many of the comments are too graphic and sexually explicit to show.
"It doesn't make you cool, it doesn't make you popular. To make someone feel so little about themselves is not ok," said Paula Lira.
Lira is a concerned parent and feels the account is a form of cyber-bullying.
"Enough is enough. The schools do need to get involved, if your school is mentioned, get involved."
According to the Kern High School District, the schools are involved but there is little they can do without interfering with the first amendment.
"It's very difficult to expunge these accounts once they get going," said Teves.
Teves said the most the district can do is suspend or expel a student when it comes to any form of bullying.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Corey Gonzales said cyberbullying involving anonymity is concerning.
"Bullying is an exploitation of power and most the times bullies, parents aren't involved like they should be and a lot of times they've been modeled ways of coping with conflict through inappropriate ways whether it be through violence or anger, " said Gonzales.
The Kern High School District said it would have to contact representatives at Twitter to remove the account.
But they didn't have to do that because the site was deactivated.
Now some other twitter feeds have popped up allegedly outing the teenage boys who started and contributed to the account.
The account had more than 3,500 followers Wednesday, but the account has been deactivated Thursday morning. Many parents have said this is another outlet for cyberbullying.
For many people, Twitter is a social media website used for making connections and keeping in touch with friends. But for some, Twitter is used for a different reason.
"This is a very cruel thing and we are very concerned for our students and their parents and the kind of pain they're going through," said John Teves a spokesman for the Kern High School District.
The account on Twitter, that we have chosen not to name, claims to expose secrets about high school students, and it's done anonymously.
Many of the comments are too graphic and sexually explicit to show.
"It doesn't make you cool, it doesn't make you popular. To make someone feel so little about themselves is not ok," said Paula Lira.
Lira is a concerned parent and feels the account is a form of cyber-bullying.
"Enough is enough. The schools do need to get involved, if your school is mentioned, get involved."
According to the Kern High School District, the schools are involved but there is little they can do without interfering with the first amendment.
"It's very difficult to expunge these accounts once they get going," said Teves.
Teves said the most the district can do is suspend or expel a student when it comes to any form of bullying.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Corey Gonzales said cyberbullying involving anonymity is concerning.
"Bullying is an exploitation of power and most the times bullies, parents aren't involved like they should be and a lot of times they've been modeled ways of coping with conflict through inappropriate ways whether it be through violence or anger, " said Gonzales.
The Kern High School District said it would have to contact representatives at Twitter to remove the account.
But they didn't have to do that because the site was deactivated.
Now some other twitter feeds have popped up allegedly outing the teenage boys who started and contributed to the account.