Reddit bans smartschoolboy9 subreddit over harassment concerns

Reddit bans smartschoolboy9 page amid harassment concerns as crowd-sourced investigation escalates in disturbing case.

The smartschoolboy9 subreddit has been banned by Reddit due to violations of the platform's harassment policy, marking a significant step in the saga that began with public concern over disturbing online profiles.

Initially sparked on Reddit in early 2024, the case involved a British man known as "smartschoolboy9," whose Instagram profiles depicted edited, sometimes explicit images in which he posed in school uniforms. Concern grew, eventually drawing the attention of YouTuber Nick Crowley, who released a documentary to raise awareness.

Crowley’s documentary fueled online speculation, prompting even more attention on Reddit and other platforms. Despite Crowley’s caution against harassment, discussions continued, leading to an explosion of theories, phony interviews, and alleged copycats. However, it seems that the Reddit page crossed certain lines, ultimately prompting a ban.

According to Reddit, the ban was due to a “violation of Reddit’s content policy against harassing content.” Even if well-intentioned, discussions on the subreddit may have devolved into targeted comments and actions. Max Williams, CEO of Herobot.app, emphasized the potential pitfalls of online investigations, noting, “While the intentions behind these efforts are often well-meaning, the consequences can be severe—both legally and ethically.”

The growing attention around the case even pulled in unrelated figures. David Firth, creator of "Salad Fingers," shared that he once encountered the man known as “smartschoolboy9” in Doncaster years ago, and recent online activity has led him to receive unwanted messages. “I WALKED PAST HIM. That’s all,” Firth clarified, asking to be left out of the ongoing case.

Despite Reddit’s action, interest in the case continues. YouTuber Dankyjabo recently released a video analyzing messages from an unverified Facebook account linked to David London, believed by some to be "smartschoolboy9." In the video, Dankyjabo advises viewers against contacting the account directly, as this may risk further escalation. The video has received widespread engagement, with commenters both condemning and speculating about the man's behavior.

Legal experts have warned that while public concern is understandable, users engaging in crowd-sourced investigations could face legal risks. “It’s crucial to recognize that participating in such investigations could expose individuals to defamation claims if the information shared is false or misleading,” explained Kalim Khan of Affinitylawyers.ca.

As the saga around smartschoolboy9 continues to develop, the Reddit ban underscores the platform's stance against harassment while raising questions about the broader implications of amateur investigations.