I’m really worried about my friend. I’m not sure if anyone will see this, but I feel like I need to share. For some background, we’re all 16. My friend D is honestly the sweetest person you could ever meet. She’s incredibly smart and genuinely kind to everyone, no matter who they are. She doesn’t have any social media, which is important because she doesn’t fully grasp the whole “online” world.
Our year group is divided into two sides, and unfortunately, the guys on my side are really unpleasant. Sure, there are a few nice ones, but most are just awful. As the oldest students in our school, they act out by throwing textbooks, turning over chairs, and completely disregarding teachers’ authority, often upsetting them. I’m not saying we need to be perfect students, but consistently disrupting class and making cruel comments—especially about girls—is just unacceptable. One time, a girl got hurt when they threw things around, and they didn’t care one bit. There was even an incident with a substitute teacher when they made a mess and blamed it on my friends and me, which only made them angrier.
Recently, someone created a fake TikTok account impersonating D. Despite lots of reports, TikTok hasn’t taken it down, and the fake account has been posting some truly hurtful things “as her.” D is understandably horrified and wants to find out who did this. We have a strong suspicion it’s someone we used to be friends with before he changed.
Today—of all days—on her birthday, they relentlessly mocked her in class. After enduring it for so long, she finally told them to leave her alone and ran out of the room. Earlier, she had already asked them to stop because she was getting really annoyed. Now, she’s been messaging me, and they’re still posting cruel things on that fake account. This has caused her so much distress; she’s been having panic attacks over it, and it’s heartbreaking to watch. I feel so helpless, especially since the teachers aren’t stepping in as usual.
I’m really sorry to hear about what your friend D is going through. It’s heartbreaking to see someone so kind and innocent be targeted like this, especially on her birthday. Bullying can have such a profound impact, and it’s not fair that she has to endure this behavior from those guys.
First and foremost, it’s important for D to know that she’s not alone and that she has friends like you who care about her. Encourage her to talk to someone she trusts, whether that’s a teacher, school counselor, or a family member about what’s happening. Even if past experiences haven’t been great with teachers, getting adults involved is crucial—she deserves support and protection.
It may also help to document everything that’s happening, including screenshots of the fake account and any messages they’re sending. If she decides to report it formally, this could provide evidence of bullying.
As for you, continue being there for her and listening. Sometimes just having someone who understands can make a huge difference. You could also help her distract herself and do things she enjoys to bring her some joy amidst all this negativity.
It’s incredibly disappointing when adults don’t take action, but that doesn’t mean you and your friends can’t make a difference. Stick together, support D, and keep pushing for change. She’s lucky to have you in her corner! Keep looking out for her and encouraging her to reach out for help.