Feb 26, 2018 2 min read

The classic game of telephone – where a misunderstanding can explode into a full-scale rumor – has gone viral.

The age of the cellphone and social media has allowed rumors and misinformation to spread faster and farther than ever before.

That was the case last week when multiple school districts in our area tightened security or locked down buildings when unsubstantiated threats were posted by students and parents on various social media platforms.

While it seems like those pesky social media posts are minor nuisances, they also can have a serious impact on people in the community. That was seen firsthand by one Carmichaels Area student whose name and photograph were circulated all across social media platforms accusing him of planning an attack on the middle school.

Fortunately, the school district rightly recognized the unfounded nature of these rumors and viewed this student as a victim, not a perpetrator. The district took extra steps when he returned to school last Tuesday, and students welcomed him back without hesitation.

Still, that nasty rumor could have had a serious impact on the student. Others just like that incited panic in our schools just a few days after the tragic Feb. 14 shooting at a Parkland, Fla., high school that killed 17 people.

While students often are perceived as being reckless when they are online, parents also are to blame. Not only must they convey the importance of being careful while using these powerful social media opportunities, but they should also lead by example.

Think before you tweet. Stop before you send a snap. Wait a moment before you share that post on Facebook.

Otherwise, that game of telephone can have real world consequences.