2. It’s much easier to say mean things via text or social media than face-to-face.
The indisputable truth is, it’s SO easy to be a big bad bully when you are hiding behind a device rather than standing in front of someone. I am sure Carter would not have been able to look at her boyfriend’s face and repeatedly urge him to kill himself, mock him for chickening out, and say his family would move on just fine without him. In my opinion, this written word is 100 times more poisonous than what the tongue can spew out in person. Make sure your kids understand that, too, whether they are on the giving or receiving end of hateful messages.
3. Your social media and texts are NOT private, so stop thinking that they are.
What happens on the Internet or via text messages, STAYS there as a record for all to see. All it takes is a subpoena. And sometimes a LOT less than that, like someone, friend or foe, or even a complete stranger, taking a screen shot. What you say online or via text CAN be used against you, whether you are a legal adult or not.
4. Actions have consequences.
This is a lesson our kids can learn from the simplest of childhood experiments, yet somehow many venture into young adulthood still needing to learn the hard way. Let Carter’s example of learning the hard way be something you talk to your kids about. Another good recent lesson along these lines is the story of the 10 incoming Harvard freshman whose admittances were revoked just a couple of weeks ago because of offensive memes they posted on Facebook. (Back to nothing is private, again!)
Roy’s death is a tragedy. Carter’s participation in it is, too. Thought there’s no doubt from the evidence that Roy was suicidal, it seems that there’s no doubt from those texts that if she hadn’t urged him on, or if she had TOLD his family or ANYONE for that matter, he would probably still be alive.
What do you think of the verdict in the Michelle Carter case?
