Safeguarding Alert: SmartSchoolBoy9

Reading Time: 5.7 mins

Published: September 20, 2024

Our online safeguarding team has received reports about someone who may be acting inappropriately online. This individual is potentially masquerading as a child on social media in order to interact with children.

This situation has also led to increased discussions and concerns on social media. ‘Copycat’ accounts have emerged, and videos related to this issue are circulating in some schools. This has caused fear and anxiety among some younger children who have been exposed to this harmful content.

We have released a Safeguarding Alert for safeguarding professionals and parents and carers, providing further advice and information on what this is, the impact and risks involved, and practical tips for protecting children and young people.

Here’s what you need to know:

What is SmartSchoolBoy9?

An unknown user, believed to be a male, is masquerading as a child on multiple social media platforms, including Instagram.

The individual appears to utilise a network of various personas across different profiles, using both AI-generated images of children that are heavily distorted on some accounts, and using real videos and images of themselves dressed up as a young boy or girl. The individual is dressed in a child’s school uniform in the images and videos, often in suggestive poses.

The captions and images draw focus to the school uniforms, which appears to be a reoccurring theme throughout all the accounts. Overall, the content sexualises children.

An online documentary suggests that the individual has used the “SmartSchoolBoy9” account to interact with children’s Instagram posts, including comments that are intended to befriend the children. The documentary itself contains descriptions of disturbing and inappropriate behaviour, and we would not advise anyone to seek it out.

SmartSchoolBoy9’s identity has not been confirmed, but speculation in the online environment suggests it is an older male based in England, who has been generating related content since 2018.

A search by our online safety team failed to identify the original accounts, which indicates they may have been taken down, although the original content can still be accessed via other sources and ‘copycat’ accounts. However, as the individual has a history of utilising multiple accounts and aliases, they could still be posting content on new profiles.

What Is the Impact?

This situation has escalated rapidly on social media, with some content creators seeking to exploit it for personal gain. Some parents have are reported to have said that their children are refusing to attend school out of fear.

Some young people might not understand the potential seriousness of the situation, and have created comedic videos on platforms like TikTok which includes reposting the original content or making ‘copycat’ videos.

False claims of school lockdowns due to SmartSchoolBoy9 have been made by young people, likely for social media attention. Misinformation, including attempts to identify the person behind the account, has been spread online.

While this is a serious safeguarding concern, it’s crucial not to attempt to identify or locate the individual. Doing so could hinder investigations and potentially put you or others at risk.

What Are The Risks?

Child Safety: The individual’s behaviour, particularly if masquerading as a child, poses a serious risk to the safety and wellbeing of children online.
Copycat Behaviour and Escalation: Social media is amplifying the situation, encouraging ‘copycat’ accounts and potentially escalating the individual’s behaviour or inspiring others to engage in harmful activities.
Misinformation and Fear-Mongering: The spread of false information and doxing can cause undue panic and anxiety among children and their families.

Tips for Parents and Carers

Remain Calm and Reassure Them

Acknowledge any concerns or fears the child expresses, as it’s important for them to feel heard and understood. Let the child know they can come to you or another trusted adult if they have any concerns or questions about anything they have seen online.

Block, Mute and Report

Use the safety tools available on social media platforms to block, mute and report any account that hosts harmful or concerning content, and show children or young people how they can do this themselves. You can use Our Safety Centre for help with this.

Monitor Their Online Activity

Consistently monitor your child’s online habits through open conversations and showing interest in their activity. 

Have Open Conversations About Online Habits

Take time to speak to the child or young person in your care about what they do online, and what platforms they use frequently.

Use open-ended questions like, “What apps do you like to use?”, or, “why do you like using that platform?”. Using open-ended questions in a judgement-free environment will give the child or young person the opportunity to discuss their online life, and make them feel more comfortable to come to you with any concerns.

Refrain From Spreading Misinformation

Do not share or comment on content relating to this situation, as doing so can spread fear and false information amongst online platforms. Additionally, explain the consequences of spreading misinformation to children and young people, and the possible dangers it can pose to themselves and others.

Don’t Encourage Curiosity

When discussing topics of concern with children and young people, avoid using specific names or terms, as this can cause them to become curious and search it online themselves, exposing them to harmful content they otherwise might not have seen. Ask questions with no specific details, such as: “I’ve heard there has been some weird and scary stuff going about online, have you seen anything?”.

If you notice a child in your care discussing or engaging with SmartSchoolBoy9 related content, don’t assume they have viewed the content. Ask them what they know about SmartSchoolBoy9 and how they heard about it using open-ended questions, such as:

“I’ve noticed you talking about SmartSchoolBoy9. Can you tell me a bit more about what you’ve heard or seen?“.

This question encourages the child to share their knowledge and understanding without making assumptions about their exposure to the content. It also opens the door for further conversation about online safety and appropriate online behaviour.

Trusted Adults

Ensure that children and young people are aware of who they can go to if they see something online that has upset them or is causing them worry. Our Trusted Adults resource can help with this.

Contact the School’s Safeguarding Lead

If the content involves your child’s school, such as the video location or the uniform worn by the individual, contact the school’s safeguarding lead to report it.

Report Concerns to Appropriate Authorities

If you have any concerns relating to this situation, do not seek to identify or locate the individual yourself, as doing so could hinder investigations and potentially put yourself or others at risk. Instead, report any concerns immediately to the appropriate authorities, including the local police and the platform that is hosting the content.