The Italian postal police blocked a Facebook page, used by a baby-gang to bully and harass one of their classmates, according to a report by China's Xinhua news agency.

The bullies had created a Facebook page where they cruelly harassed the kid, insulting and calling him all sorts of names, even threatening him. They also invited other viewers via online to treat and abuse the child in the same way.

Therefore, the Minors' Court has accused a total of seven children aged 14 as "on-line abuses" against a boy in their same classroom.

The victim, after six months of persecution, was so scared that he initially changed class and then even dropped out of school, preferring to stay home.

The bullies are also accused of "identity violation" as they had posted on Facebook a photo scam of the victim, showing his face eaten up by a terrible sexual disease.

Luckily, the victim decided to tell his parents of the nightmare he was experiencing, and later, with the parents, lodged a police report regarding the incident.

After an initial investigation, the authorities decided to block access to the Facebook page and punish the young criminals.

It was the first time that the Italian police have shut down a "bullying" webpage, a proof of how dangerous social networks can sometimes be.

Bullying, like the baby-gangs, is a phenomenon which is lately on the rise in Italy.

According to sociologists, it is mainly due to class differences between children and is facilitated by the use of Internet.

Source : Bernama