Howard Co. investigating online polls targeting HS students
HOWARD COUNTY (WISH) — School administrators in Howard County are investigating after learning about online polls targeting high school students.
In a statement from principals from five different high schools in Howard County, they said they will not tolerate this type of behavior.
Someone created accounts on Twitter asking students to take part in a poll and to cast their vote. Some of the questions are too vulgar that 24-Hour News 8 chose not to broadcast them.
“I didn’t really like it and I didn’t vote on anything because I just saw how it could hurt people and everything,” said AJ Robertson, high school student.
Administrators believe someone is creating the accounts off school grounds and posting them anonymously. The user is asking what administrators are calling offensive questions about other students.
“When I first saw it, I saw a lot of negative things I didn’t see anything positive from it at all,” said Robertson.
Robertson goes to Kokomo High School and first heard about the accounts this past week.
“A lot of the people in my classes they’ll just ignore their work and they’ll talk about this stuff,” said Robertson. “It’s pretty much been all the kids are talking about lately and they’ll talk about who they voted for and everything.”
Robertson said it’s very upsetting to know that fellow classmates are taking part in the negativity and not being part of the solution.
“I’m just hoping that people start like trying to make an effort to be nicer to everyone and like some people will see this and realize the things you say even if they’re online like it can still really hurt someone,” said Robertson.
Other students like, Valaree St. Clair agree.
“I know a lot of parents kind of got upset over it, kind of got offended when their kids were on it,” said St. Clair, high school student. “So I think parents have really gotten offended.”
St. Clair said some students even created a compliments page to counter the negativity.
“These people saw all the negativity all over Twitter and they decided they didn’t want to see it, so they just made a compliments page posting all of these nice things about students and the school itself,” said St. Clair.
Administrators said they are working to get to the bottom of this even getting police involved in the investigation.
They’re also reminding students of the consequences just before the end of the school year.
“All Howard County students are reminded that those who participate in activities that harass and or bully other students or staff, whether inside or outside of school, may face disciplinary action in accordance with each school corporation’s policies.”
Administrators have asked Twitter to remove the accounts. If you think you know who’s behind the accounts, you’re asked to call the high school.