Smartschoolboy9: Disturbing case explained

YouTuber Nick Crowley recently released a documentary titled 'smartschoolboy9: An Internet Rabbit Hole,' which delves into one of the most troubling online mysteries of recent times.

The documentary focuses on a series of Instagram accounts linked to AI-generated and heavily edited images of children, sparking public outcry and concern over potential exploitation. At the heart of this investigation is an individual known online as “smartschoolboy9,” whose disturbing activities have attracted the attention of internet sleuths.

The issue first gained traction in April 2024, when Reddit user u/NumerousCut792 posted on the Instagram subreddit about encountering several unsettling Instagram profiles. These accounts featured children dressed in high heels and school uniforms, prompting the Redditor to question whether something more sinister was occurring. Among the accounts highlighted were @smartschoolboy9, @truth_sticks_11, and @girl.chloe12. As online users began digging deeper, a chilling pattern of disturbing content and interactions with minors emerged.

Through extensive research, Crowley and other online investigators traced these accounts back to one individual: David Walter Alter, a 59-year-old man. The accounts, initially appearing innocuous, progressively displayed more explicit content involving children, often in AI-generated or edited images. What made the situation more concerning was the accounts' interactions with real children on social media, raising fears about the intent behind these posts.

In his documentary, Crowley explains how the online community uncovered Alter’s web of Instagram accounts, which seemed to follow and interact with each other to appear legitimate. Alter, who allegedly lived in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, was reportedly driven out due to his behavior, with speculation suggesting he now resides in Streatham, London. Despite these allegations, South Yorkshire Police have neither confirmed nor denied any ongoing investigation into Alter.

The accounts themselves, particularly @smartschoolboy9, displayed increasingly bizarre content. The individual behind the account often dressed in school uniforms, with a white-painted face and high-heeled boots, further fueling suspicions. Some videos even showed him in public spaces near schools, raising additional concerns about potential real-world actions.

While rumors of his past misconduct, including interactions with teenage students, circulate online, many remain unverified. The accounts in question have since been removed from Instagram, but similar replicas continue to appear, complicating the investigation. Crowley warns viewers in his documentary against attempting to contact Alter, emphasizing that many aspects of this case remain unresolved, leaving the public anxiously awaiting more definitive answers.