Social media gives people the freedom to post and say whatever they please. People can make profiles to act their alter-egos, troll others on the web, say what they truly feel, etc. In a sense they can be someone they are not. They could even say things they would not say in person to others. So when someone makes a threat on social media it has to be taken seriously, right? For example, if someone says, "I have a bomb" in person that is taken seriously. So why should it be different on social media?
Just recently, Princeton High School in North Texas, beefed up security in response to a social media threat made by a juvenile. The student used the application, Burnbook, to relay that they we're going to 'shoot up the school.' Police were tipped off about the threat from an organization that monitors the application. As a precaution kids had to walk through metal detectors and have their bags checked. Extra officers were also on staff.
(Photo: WFAA)
This brings to light the issue of what and what not to take seriously on social media. Personally, I think it is hard to monitor all threats made on the web and social media. There are so many ways to make different accounts and post whatever you wish. For example, John Smith makes a different account on Twitter called "The Man 14," and on that account he posts vile and horrible things. But it will never be traced to him because he has the ability to make more multiple accounts. People post horrible things on social media, but it is not practical to monitor them all. And the fact is some people just post horrible stuff to do it or to get a reaction. Like we talked about in class "feeding the troll."
My point with this article is to show that social media can be helpful in monitoring security. For example, Princeton High School was able to safely avert their threat. Yet, it can also hinder the process because there is just so much content from all corners of the Earth. It is hard to see what should be taken seriously and what should not. I do not believe this is an isolated incident, but this school did do a good job of nipping it in the butt. I still wonder though, all the extra time and resources wasted because a kid said something stupid. Of course better to be safe than sorry, but think if every kind of threat was looked into? We would need more policemen and women!
P.S.: The culprit was caught by police and is being charged with making terroristic threats.
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