By ALESHA CAPONE
A VIDEO showing a girl attacking another young girl outside a Brimbank train station has been posted on the internet.
The video, titled Girl Fight Watergardens Train Station, was uploaded to the YouTube website earlier this month.
In its first week online, the video was watched more than 65 times.
At one minute and 24 seconds long, the clip appears to have been filmed on a bystander’s or witness’ mobile phone.
The video shows a group of about 14 youths gathered on steps outside the train station.
One young girl grabs hold of another’s hair and jerks her head forward, before pushing her.
The perpetrator then thumps her chest against the other girl, and an item – which looks like a hunk of hair – falls to the ground.
The offender follows up by grabbing her victim’s hair again, forcing her to bend over and walk along.
The girl starts crying, as the perpetrator walks off and is hugged by another girl before the video ends.
The perpetrator can be heard swearing at her victim and calling her a moron.
Cyber-bullying expert Susan McLean said this type of behaviour could have serious consequences.
Ms McLean was a member of Victoria Police for 27 years and is now an internet safety consultant and speaker.
“We know some cyber bullying can lead to cases of mental illness, depression and in some tragic cases, suicide,” Ms McLean said.
She said some young people did not realise that anything they posted on the internet, or were filmed doing, could have far-reaching repercussions.
“Everything’s around for ever – all the pictures are there forever and all the comments,” she said.
“Even if it stops, there is a chance it will come back to haunt you in the future.”
Ms McLean said while some schools ran excellent anti-bullying programs, cyber-safety education should be compulsory for teenagers.
Ms McLean said anyone experiencing bullying should ask for advice, rather than trying to deal with it alone.
“First of all, it is wrong and must not be tolerated,” she said.
“Be brave and speak up, because it’s wrong.”
For help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Bully Zero Australia Foundation on 1800 028 559.
