By an Anonymous Author

Extra! Extra!

Think Twice Before You Participate or Post… Part One

Hey there all you CA students! How is your Instagram feed looking these days?

I am here to tell you about something that may or may not be from my own personal experience.

We all know that social media is here to stay, but it’s important to be responsible.  We’ve been reminded about this over and over, but it can still happen to you: think twice before you pose or participate in a photo op with your friends.  Did you know that even if a picture is taken and posted away from CA property, you can still be held accountable for negative behavior?  What if someone gets a hold of your Instagram or chat and adds a commentary to it that you didn’t write or post?  YOU can still be held responsible and be brought before the CA Judiciary Committee for disciplinary purposes. And let’s face it, that’s no fun.

Here’s a good question: why do some folks feel compelled to post something negative or just participate in something, not realizing it could be interpreted negatively? It could be a hand gesture, it could be a video saying something not so nice about someone or acting inappropriately. Nowadays it’s all about “fitting in.” Peer pressure, people! We’ve all fallen victim to wanting to be ‘cool’ or acting in a certain way to fit in with friends and peers. As a student, I know what this pressure feels like and I know how hard it is not to give in.  It’s so important that you realize your worth and not give into it – and to think about the ramifications if you do.  Our world is moving fast around us and teenagers tend to act without thinking too much about it at first….until it comes back to bite us!

I mentioned earlier that things can live forever on the internet. They really can. Once it’s posted, it can’t be undone. Even on Snapchat, which you ‘think’ may disappear, what if someone took a screenshot to use against you at another time? It’s difficult to do this, but I am forced to think about my future. What about when I am applying for college or trying to get a job? Will something I post affect my success in these areas?

Remember, at Cary Academy we are held to high standards – much higher than most other schools. We are here because we worked hard to get here. You don’t want to mess that up!

Just remember these important guidelines:

You represent the CA community when you are at school, or not.

Never post anything that you wouldn’t want everyone to see.  Screen shots can always be taken and then it’s out there forever.

Just because YOU delete something, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t live forever on the internet.

Think before posting: discuss with a friend or parent if you are not sure if something is appropriate to share.

Educate yourself by referring to the CA US School Handbook on our school’s policy.

Social Media can be fun and safe if we all use it responsibly!