Dundee youngsters are being exposed to online bullying, which could lead to tragic circumstances.
The warning came as a Facebook page, making anonymous claims of a sexual nature about people throughout the city, was removed by administrators.
Keiran Watson, of charity Eighteen and Under, said earlier intervention is needed to prevent such messages ever being posted.
He said: “I think as a society what we can do is teach children from an early age how their actions affect other people.
“The problem isn’t cyber-bullying, it’s bullying. The technology isn’t the problem. I think it’s lack of proper education.
“I don’t think they appreciate how much damage it causes. In the past there have been cases of young people committing suicide over these.
“As adults we have to work from an early age with children and young people.”
One Dundee mother was alerted to the page, which The Courier has chosen not to name, by a friend of her son’s.
Claims had been made about the youngster and left open for further comments.
The mum said: “When I saw it, it was a shock, it was horrible. When we were young, the most there would be was your name written on the wall. This is cyber-bullying.”
The woman added she was frustrated as she felt powerless to do anything.
“I feel like I’m limited by what I can do,” she said. “You just want to protect your children. I’m just really frustrated by it.
“What I’m scared for is my wee boy has ADHD and he finds it hard to cope as it is. It’s scary.”
This is not the only page of its type.
The mother added: “There are many more where the sole purpose is to publicly humiliate people by sending in private messages that are then posted containing fabricated lies about the individual.
“These rumours are extremely damaging to reputations, confidence and self-esteem.
“I feel more parents should be made aware of these disgusting sites in case their own children are involved in them. Ideally I would like to see such sites closed down.”
The Facebook page was taken down after The Courier contacted the administrator.