PARIS — When Oxford Hills school administrators asked students to help identify Instagram account owners who shared unflattering and invasive images of kids sleeping on buses, in school, using facilities and during other unguarded moments, several stepped up, with some reaping $100 rewards.

According to Superintendent Monica Henson, $400 has been doled out as reward for identifying the people behind the accounts and at least seven of them have been shut down so far.

After one student approached a school principal upset about their picture being included on one of the pages, administrators found several accounts with names containing phrases like “slouchers,” “caughtlackin,” “bathroomfeet,” “dumpys,” “feet” and “badparking.” Many of the accounts have been taken down. One is still listed, but with a headline that no more pictures will be posted.

The account that shows bad parking, presumably at the high school, is still active. The account owner claims in a couple of recent photos that they don’t consider their page to be cyberbullying. That page includes a disclaimer that the posts are meant as fun and the poster will remove any pictures upon request.

No one is safe from having their vehicles publicized on badparking, from students to teachers to the school resource officer. Most comments on the posts seem to be lighthearted, whether by the driver or their friends.

A new Instagram trend targets unwitting nappers and drivers, among others, within school property. Nicole Carter / Advertiser Democrat

Some posted images of sleeping students give the appearance of being posed but administrators have called out the accounts as an invasion of privacy.

“[Possibly] students didn’t realize the implications of these accounts,” Henson told the Advertiser Democrat this week. “But it is considered bullying and we mean to send a message that it will will not be tolerated.”

Henson said it appears the accounts are linked to a broad, viral social media trend, similar to last fall’s “dangerous licks” videos on TikTok, where students vandalized and stole from public restrooms.

The district’s response of asking students to help resolve the issue is based on its positive behavioral intervention support program.

“When we offered a reward, people just came out of the woodwork,” Henson shared. “Not just students but we heard from concerned parents as well.”

Some students even outed themselves as account owners and voluntarily took them down.

Henson said this viral trend was quickly resolved but acknowledges it will be only a matter of time before new issues requiring attention arise.

“We intend to be vigilant on these situations,” she said. “When the next trend emerges we will take action.”