Pat's Answer
To Pat / 29 Feb 2020
Topic: Best friend
Your Question
Hi Pat,
I found out a best friend was using a 2nd phone to take pictures of the messages I sent him about really personal stuff so he wouldn’t get caught if he took a screenshot on Snapchat.
When I found out he blocked me on everything and told everyone in school about all the messages and sent them around to people in different schools.
How am I supposed to deal with this because he was my only friend after years of bullying? Now I’ve to go to school with no friends and he won’t even tell me why he did it.
Jason
From Pat / 09 Mar 2020
Answer
Welcome to Ask Pat,
Thank you for sharing with us what is going on for you Jason. It sounds like you have gone through a difficult time and your only friend whom you trusted has broken that trust and has exposed your personal stuff to others. It sounds like you are hurt by his behavior and that you want to understand why he did what he did. It is understandable that you would feel hurt by your friend’s behavior and that you would want answers for him behaving in such a way.
You deserve to get support and it might help to tell an adult that you trust about what has been happening for you. If you are feeling left out in school, you have the right to speak to someone like a guidance counsellor/teacher. You might find some useful information regarding friendships on our website in the ‘Friends’ piece in our ‘Info and Advice’ section.
It sounds like this friend has exploited your friendship and has begun to bully you using social media and technology. No one has the right to bully you in any way and this behavior is not okay and it is not your fault. You might find some useful information regarding friendships on our website in the ‘Bullying’ piece in our ‘Info and Advice’ section.
Don’t forget, you can always contact Childline on 1800 66 66 66 to talk about what is going on for you. Our text service, 50101 and webchat service, through www.childline.ie. While we do not tell you what to do here at Childline, we are here to listen and support and to help you to explore the options that are available to you in your life to help you in a way that suits you. Thank you Jason for sharing with us what is going on for you.
Take care.
Pat.