Oyster Bay High School Notifies Parents; Police Of Fake Instagram

OYSTER BAY, NY--Earlier this week, a letter from Oyster Bay High School went out to parents and guardians explaining that a fake Instagram account made in the name of one of the school's administrators was being spread among the student body. The account included several inappropriate photos, some of which Principal Sharon Lasher called "extremely disturbing" in the email.

Once students brought the fake account to the school's attention, it immediately notified the Nassau County Police Department. After reviewing the case, the police called members of its detective squad and launched a full investigation. The Instagram account was taken down but not before a large number of the school's students followed the account and "liked" its photos.

After conducting its own internal investigation, the school talked to many of its students about the potential dangers of social media and "following" shady accounts and liking certain uploads. Students were then reminded of their civic responsibility to report accounts like the one that was made in the administrator's name. More than 75 students "liked" the photos, but only two actually came forward.

The investigation was elevated after the Instagram account resurfaced to share more "disturbing postings and pictures."

Lasher encouraged parents and guardians to discuss cyber-safety with their children, as many of the high school students followed back the account after it initially connected with them. She also asked that parents talk to their kids about reporting any social media accounts that could potentially bring harm to other people.

You can learn more about cyber-safety here.