DUNMORE -- A relatively new app for your phone is causing quite the stir in schools across our area and school leaders want it gone.
Bullying takes many forms in schools, but now, with the help of a new app called "Burnbook," students are posting harassing messages about each other. And students and administrators already say it has to stop.
The physical burn book from the popular movie Mean Girls has gone digital. An app called Burnbook is making its way into schools across our area, including Dunmore High School.
"It's an app where you can say anything about anybody anonymously and they won't know," said Dunmore sophomore Eugene Hall.
"Everyone is talking about it. I hear it in the hallways so, like, every kid basically."
But some students say an app meant to share a free flow of information is being abused.
"What impact has it had on school? Negative, not nice, it's mean, it's cruel," said a Dunmore sophomore.
"Everyone is just getting really hurt by it."
The principal at Dunmore High School is trying to stop Burnbook from raging on. Students say he told them to stay away or there will be consequences.
"He was just like, to the student body, whoever is on their phones and writing shameless and mean things will be suspended."
The Lackawanna County district attorney's office says punishments for things like this don't necessarily just stop at the parents and the school.
"Young people tend to think it's simply words, and they aren't physically present to see the impact of those words," said Lackawanna County assistant D.A. Gene Talerico.
Talerico says cyber-bullying is a real issue that brings real consequences outside the online world, and students and their parents need to remember that.
"When it gets to the level of becoming harassing and annoying behavior over a period of time, those things begin to implicate the criminal law, beyond the bounds of decency."
The Lackawanna County district attorney's office adds that it's important for parents to be aware what kids have on their phones and to communicate with them about the impact these things can have.