Pause Before You Post: A Social Media Guide for Educators in Tense Political Times
Emotions were already running high this election season when the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump pushed them to new levels, flooding social media with disinformation and crass and inappropriate comments that landed some educators in hot water.
The moment serves as a reminder that as the presidential election campaigns switch into high gear and schools come back into session, it’s an important time to teach students the skills needed to be responsible digital citizens.
But teaching students these skills—how to restrain themselves on social media when emotions are running high and consequences can be severe—becomes even more challenging when the adults around them fail to show any restraint, said Merve Lapus, the vice president of education outreach and engagement at Common Sense, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization that provides curricula on media literacy.
