In a concerning incident last week, a freshman student from Florida found herself in serious trouble after posting threatening messages about her teacher on Twitter during class. By the end of the school day, she was in police custody.
The tweets included alarming statements such as:
- “Someone bail me out of prison when I murder Ms. Smith… I’m about to stab her, I’m literally so pissed right now someone help.”
- “I HOPE MS. SMITH KILLS HERSELF.”
- “MS. SMITH IS SUCH A (expletive) BITCH, I’M LITERALLY ABOUT TO STAB HER IN THE FACE.”
- “I am on the verge of tears, I want to rip her face off.”
- “I hope that Ms. Smith goes on the roof of the school and jumps off into a pit of fire.”
- “@Ms. Smith, maybe if you actually clarified and explained, we wouldn’t have all gotten D’s on the assignment??!!”
These tweets led to a felony charge for “written threats to kill,” along with a misdemeanor charge for cyberstalking. Although the school district had recently implemented social media monitoring software called Snaptrends, it was an anonymous tip-off about the tweets that triggered the police intervention. The police report indicated that the teacher was “visibly distraught” and expressed her willingness to assist in the prosecution.
This incident highlights the critical importance of discussing the implications of social media with teenagers. Some may argue that this was merely an emotional outburst from a frustrated teen, but the reality is that threats should never be taken lightly. The potential for a felony charge is a serious consequence that could follow this young person for years to come.
In May, the Orange County School District began using software to monitor student social media accounts to help proactively address situations that could affect students and staff. Some commentators argue that children should have the right to privacy on social media, but the reality is that public accounts are just that—public. It’s crucial for young people to understand this concept, as the line between harmless venting and credible threats can be dangerously thin.
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In summary, the combination of social media and adolescent emotions can create precarious situations. It’s essential for parents to engage in open discussions with their teens about the consequences of their online activities.
Keyphrase: Teenager arrested for threatening tweets
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