Social Media is Forever and Your Future is Important

The Steubenville, Ohio case is sad and repeating it does not provide the dignity nor disgust that are both present in the incident and its results.

The partiers made videos and took pictures via phones, iPads.  Many of the pictures were blasted across the various social media forums within seconds.  Friends of friends told friends -- the word was out and so were the pictures.

At some point someone decided that was not exactly the best thing to do.  Committing a crime and then posting on Facebook is strange.  So the process of deleting began.

There is no redo button on social media.  Once out there it is out there.  No amount of deleting and purging or "oh my gosh, what have I done" will undo the posting.  So the friends of friends and the strangers from across the country saw and saved and reposted and on and on.

Students and families need to be cautious about posting on social media.  If you have the slightest belief that the information or photo could be used in some awkward manner, think again about posting.  The picture posted last week is still out there and will be 5, 10 and 40 years from now.

Too many teens have decided that posting on instant gram or some other supposed brief lasting site will provide instant fame but no long lasting shame.  Well, that is not correct.  Too many teens are placing their future in jeopardy by spur of the moment decisions.

Please do not be self-destructive.