Like any other media which reaches the public there distance. Don’t let the next child arrested for making
is a responsibility to use it wisely. (Can you imagine written threats be your child. Talk to your child(ren)
someone using a newspaper or a TV show to threaten about their social media use. I’ve heard many parents
another person?) In order to combat the unintended say to their child “I’m not here to by your friend, I’m
consequences of social media misuse you should make here to be your parent.” When it comes to social
your child(ren) aware and debunk the myth that what media you may want to literally be their ‘friend’ or
they send is only between them and the other person. “follower”. What better way to be aware of their
The truth of the matter is that with the enactment of ‘avatar’ or ‘digital presence’ that they are known by to
this law, anything that they put out into cyberspace for the rest of the world.
someone else to see can be documented, reproduced,
and used as evidence against them in a court of law.
Electronic platforms are known as Social Media--- not
Anti-Social media. These platforms should be used
to foster relationships, share great experiences with
friends, keep people informed, and keep up with
Marc Dwyer is a Partner at the Law Firm of Chiumento
Dwyer Hertel Grant and specializes in Marital and
Family Law.
This month’s Anecdote: An ounce of Prevention is
worth a pound of cure.
interesting people; not to threaten people from a
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