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Users of a pornographic website featuring images of Australian schoolgirls have young women from the Bega Valley in their sights.
The photo-sharing website caused national outrage earlier this month when it was revealed many of its pictures were of underage students and published without their knowledge.
The Bega District News can confirm a section of the site requests users to post photos of women specifically from the Bega region.
Started in late August, the instigator calls for “Bega nudes”.
As of Wednesday afternoon photos of local women were yet to be uploaded.
Over 2000 images of students from an estimated 70 Australian schools are believed to have been uploaded since the website was established in December.
Users request specific women or make a callout for photos of women from a particular school, university or area. They refer to nude images as "wins" and offer to swap pictures with others.
After widespread outcry, the website was taken down by authorities on August 19, but was back online about 10 days later.
Former welfare teacher at Bega High School and chair of Bega Valley Suicide Prevention Action Network Liz Seckold said sharing such photos could have a terrible effect on young women’s mental health and well-being.
“It’s a cowardly act made to intimidate and embarrass,” she said.
“They would have to face up to all the people who saw the photo and could put up with a lot of bullying.
“It’s not just the one girl who would be affected, it’s the whole family plus friends.
“It’s very sexist too, that the ‘good old Aussie male’ can do this and it’s kind of okay.”
Manager of PCYC Far South Coast Gary Traynor said some kids might think uploading such photos as “a lark and a laugh”, but they do cause offence, hurt and have consequences for the women’s futures.
“It certainly can be a betrayal of trust,” he said.
- with Rachel Browne