[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]QUT StalkerSpace 2.0 and QUT Memes were permanently deleted on Friday after failing to pass a Facebook community standards review, with no explanation to admins.
Admins revealed their disappointment at the result, despite having removed content from 48 hours prior to the initial deletion, including the memes of business student Dylan Griffiths, which The Courier Mail labelled as bullying and the reason for the take down.
The Courier Mail article called the group toxic and quoted one student that said “QUT StalkerSpace is the sort of environment that encourages people to kill themselves,” which was ridiculed by students as clickbait, some of whom pointed out that the article also mentions that Griffiths enjoyed the memes.
This came after Griffiths posted a photo of himself “repping” a QUT branded shirt in the snow and joked about the recent heat in Brisbane.
Admin Jack Chilton is also quoted, stating that he had been in contact with Griffiths, and would have taken down content upon request.
Some current and ex-admins pointed out that QUT have repeatedly requested their name be removed from the group title, while many students blamed QUT for the coordinated shut down.
In a statement to Glass, Vice-President (Administration) and Registrar Leanne Harvey said they “do not know why the groups were shut down.”
“The deletion of these groups destroys a community of people celebrating all aspects of university culture,” one student said.
“The admins worked hard to protect the wellbeing of its members, and my friends and I used it to actually help us at QUT,” they continued.
Facebook was contacted for comment.
Two StalkerSpace themed subreddits also fell victim, and were set to private on Friday, only accessible by admins.
Another spinoff group, CrystalSpace, was removed even after “QUT” was taken out of the title, though has since been restored.
One student created a group called “QUT Yeetspace Stalker 8000 2.0” as an experiment, which Facebook alleged contained content that did not follow their standards, despite the only post in the group being the admin asking no one to post anything.
This group was restored after “QUT” was removed from the title.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]