A scene from a video on the “Adelaide Box Ons” Facebook page.
Source: Supplied
A FACEBOOK page that promoted videos of violent attacks in South Australian schoolyards and shopping centres has now been pulled down after The Advertiser brought it to public attention.
Facebook administrators initially told multiple readers who complained to the US-based social media giant that they had reviewed the page and found “it doesn’t violate our community standards”.
But after Advertiser.com.au broke the story yesterday afternoon and it was featured on the front page of today’s paper — as well as receiving coverage on television news — the page was no longer accessible this morning.
The administrators had bragged about creating a back-up page in case the original page was shut down — this morning the back-up page is accessible but displays no videos and only two images, one of which is a kangaroo.
Facebook’s Australian office is being contacted for comment.
YESTERDAY’S REPORT
VIOLENT Adelaide students beating each other senseless in social media videos face criminal charges, as police track them through a Facebook page set up as an online fight club.
Police are working with the Education Department to find perpetrators and victims of the brutal fights and beatings, at least one of which has left a student unconscious.
In that video, the unconscious student is then repeatedly punched in the face while unable to defend himself.
The Advertiser has alerted Facebook to the “Adelaide Box Ons” page, which has over 7000 likes after being created just four days ago.
The page, which claims to only promote local fights, was described as being “full of Adelaide box ons” and encouraged readers to submit their own videos.
A police spokesman said the content was disturbing.
“Once (the Education Department) has identified the schools, students and victims involved, SAPOL and the department will work together to follow up any allegations of criminal assault,” he said.
“SAPOL will not hesitate to take action where criminal offending has occurred.”
Education Department director Susan Cameron said the violence would not be tolerated.
“I’m disturbed and am quite confident my colleagues in schools will be taking swift action to work with the perpetrators and support the victims,” she said.
“There is a zero tolerance approach to violence.”
The Australian Medical Association’s SA president, Dr Patricia Montanaro, said a single blow could cause death.
“This is dangerous, this is assault and it can cause brain injury, brain damage and disability,” Dr Montanaro said.
Another clip, which has more than 30,000 views, took place on the oval of Craigmore High School, The Advertiser has confirmed.
Craigmore principal Des Wauchope described the video of his students as “shocking”.
That fight, between the two boys, occurred six weeks ago and one of them was suspended for five days. The attacker was more than twice the size of his victim and the brawl was broken up by a teacher.
“I was taken aback, it surprised me. It’s certainly uncommon for Craigmore High School,” Mr Wauchope said.
He said staff only became aware that there was a video of the incident after being alerted by members of the community today.
He said social media websites had to work harder to prevent pages such as Adelaide Box Ons from being created.
“It surprises me that (the videos) can get that prominence and that there is a site that allows the material to be published,” he said.
On Facebook, some slammed the page, one writing: “Wow what a feral person this page creator is. Can tell your defiantly (sic) some twelvie who still thinks fights are ‘cool’.”
And another wrote: “This page is disgusting and we wonder why our kids do bad things. Encouragement. Disgraceful.”
But the administrator of the page posted: “Sooks! If you don’t like the page don’t like it or follow our posts.”
A backup page, Aussie Box Ons was created in case the original was shut down and attracted about 3000 likes before it also disappeared.
“Alright I’ve made a back up page just incase this one gets banned because of all the butt hurt people reporting it. So go like it up,” the administrator wrote.
A spokesperson for Facebook today confirmed it had acted to remove the offending page.
“We share the community’s concern about this content and promptly removed it after being made aware of it by local safety advocates and education contacts,” the spokesperson said.
The Facebook page now has over 7000 likes.
Source: Supplied
‘Adelaide Box Ons’ Facebook page condemned — it’s Fight Club in the schoolyard
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