Inappropriate use of Digital Media

As an educator in a middle school, I could tell countless stories of students using social media to harass others. It is so easy for students to post without thinking. Some of these interactions are public, or observable to others who are "following" them on the platforms, but much of it is in private chats. Often, these private conversations are shared with others without everyone's consent, and what was assumed to be a confidential conversation is now widely shared. This leads to in-person confrontations at school, students feeling excluded and betrayed, and often requires adult support to remedy. If students had considered the consequences of having "private" conversations online, they could better protect themselves from this type of harassment.