cross-posted from: https://aussie.zone/post/34922554

An Australian teenager and her mother have become instrumental in the investigation of this network.

“A worrying trend is how victims are becoming perpetrators to try to escape their online bullies who have befriended and groomed them, and then forced them to hurt themselves.”

“A lot of times kids come forward and maybe [the police] don’t recognise the signs that it’s the 764 network, and so they don’t pursue it as aggressively as they should,” she says.

Spinks says there needs to be greater awareness for parents too. The Australian federal police cite warning signs including indications of self-harm, sudden withdrawal from family and friends and secretive behaviour about online interactions.

“One of the biggest, most dangerous misunderstandings is that this won’t happen to us, or this only happens to a certain type of kid, when in reality, it could honestly happen to anyone.”

Support is available at Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14, and at MensLine on 1300 789 978.