No charges have been laid following an investigation into the online behaviour of students at The Friends’ School in North Hobart.
Police said they have spoken to five young people and their parents following concerns about inappropriate online activity.
The youths were dealt with under the Youth Justice Act and no charges were laid.
Tasmania Police said specialist officers provided early intervention education and support to disrupt the behaviour.
The prestigious private school notified parents in a letter about “online behaviour involving students from Friends’ and other local schools” and said the matter had been referred to police.
It is understood the incident may have involved the use of AI-generated content.
In a statement to Pulse earlier this week, Principal Esther Hill said the school was committed to educating and helping young people navigate the challenging and often difficult online environment.
“As a Quaker school, we deeply value integrity, and we feel very proud and grateful for the upstanding, values-driven actions of members of our community, who have demonstrated that open communication and the sharing of concerns are paramount in navigating the difficult landscape of social media and the online environment,” she said.
“We will continue to work with and encourage families to seek guidance and support in relation to navigating the online environment.”
Tasmania Police has urged parents to take active steps in monitoring their children’s internet use following the incident.
Police said parents needed to be aware of the behaviour of their children online.
“Have open conversations often, supervision is essential, be approachable if your child needs help, check privacy settings and know now how to report,” a police spokesperson said.
Police directed families to online safety resources including ThinkUKnow, the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation and the eSafety Commissioner’s website for detailed guidance on protecting children online.
