Two teenaged boys were suspended from an Ottawa high school for a fight that was seen on the internet by more than 1,000 people, including their vice-principal.

Barry Armstrong, vice-principal of Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School, suspended two students for two days and got details of last Wednesday's incident by watching it on YouTube.

'"And without exception they seem to miss that link — that it's in perpetuity — that it lasts and it may be embarrassing for them down the road and certainly for the school in the short term.'— Barry Armstrong, vice-principal, Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School

He's among an increasing number of people — including police and crime victims — who are counting on YouTube to reveal transgressions of criminals and kids.

Armstrong said Monday that he checks internet sites such as YouTube at least once a week for public displays of bad behaviour by his students.

He added he still plans to find and suspend the student who filmed the video with a camera phone and posted it on YouTube.

Armstrong said he doesn't think students realize the consequences of posting anything on the internet.

"And without exception they seem to miss that link — that it's in perpetuity — that it lasts and it may be embarrassing for them down the road and certainly for the school in the short term."

In the past few months, some teens and adults have faced serious consequences after being seen on YouTube.

In December, criminal charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and several traffic charges were laid against two Winnipeg teens using evidence posted on YouTube. At the time, Winnipeg police said they regularly monitor the site for postings of illegal activity.

Later that month, Hamilton police arrested a homicide suspect who turned himself in after he appeared in surveillance video of the crime scene that police posted on YouTube.