‘You cannot force a 14-year-old into school when they are terrified. This is not just refusing to go. This is fear,’ says high school student’s guardian
An Orillia teenager has not attended school for months after becoming the target of online rumours and threats his guardian says spread rapidly among local youth through social media.
The 14-year-old boy’s grandmother and legal guardian, Susan Jones, said the situation began last fall and escalated into harassment both online and in person. She said false accusations about the teen circulated among students and later appeared on a TikTok page that invited users to submit stories about classmates.
“At first, it was messages,” Jones said. “Then it became threats, and then it was everyone hearing things about him that were not true.”
She said police were contacted early in the situation after her grandson received threatening messages, including photos of a knife.
“They told us it warranted a no-contact order,” she said. “After that, the messages didn’t stop. They just came from other people.”
According to Jones, the harassment moved beyond phones and group chats. She said the teen was followed home from school on numerous occasions and once took refuge inside another school building while students waited outside and stole his bicycle.
Security cameras were later installed at their home, and the teen now rarely leaves the house alone.
“He used to ride his bike everywhere,” she said. “Now, even getting him to walk through the school doors makes his heart pound and his hands shake.”
Jones said her grandson has not attended school regularly since November because of severe anxiety connected to the incidents. She described meetings with school staff where he could only remain inside briefly before becoming overwhelmed.
“He can sit for, maybe, 10 minutes,” she said. “Then he feels like he has to leave.”
The family has worked with therapists, school staff and the Ontario Provincial Police. Jones said she believes everyone tried their best to help, but explained they were limited when behaviour occurred online or away from school property.
“They can deal with things in the school, but once it moves outside or onto social media, there isn’t much they can do,” she said.
Jones said the TikTok page included photos of numerous students and encouraged submissions from other users. Attempts to report the content were unsuccessful.
“It becomes judge and jury of the platform,” she said. “Kids make accusations, it spreads through the whole community, and nothing is done to remove it.”
She believes the impact goes beyond hurt feelings and affects a teenager’s sense of belonging.
“He thinks everyone in Orillia hates him,” she said. “He even talks about moving away.”
Jones said some people have suggested stricter discipline or removing access to phones, but she does not believe that reflects the reality families face.
“You cannot force a 14-year-old into school when they are terrified,” she said. “This is not just refusing to go. This is fear.”
She hopes speaking publicly encourages people to talk with their children about online behaviour and the consequences of spreading rumours.
“Parents need to understand this isn’t just drama,” she said. “It can completely change a kid’s life.”
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police says cyberbullying can include spreading rumours, posting harmful content or sending threats online, and may follow youth at all hours. Police note some behaviour may cross into criminal offences, such as criminal harassment, uttering threats, or defamatory libel.
The force advises families to document incidents, report safety concerns to police, notify schools and report harmful content to social media platforms.
Cybertip.ca, Canada’s national tip line for reporting online child victimization, allows people to report harmful online behaviour involving youth and provides safety information about emerging online risks.
Jones said she now focuses on keeping her grandson engaged at home while working toward a safe return to school.
“Graduating matters,” she said, “but feeling safe and wanting to be alive matters more.”
