Courtesy of the Ridgewood Police department
By Ptl. Joseph Youngberg
Ridgewood NJ, social media words to live by , this is from May 8, 2019 but it bears repeating :
Social media can be an incredibly useful tool and medium to stay connected with family and friends. Here are some “miranda rights” to remember when posting to social media:
“You have the right to remain silent”
What do you have to gain from posting? If you stand to lose more than you stand to gain – you have the right to remain silent!
If you’re posting out of anger – maybe in a political discussion – then you “pump the breaks” before engaging anyone online. Perhaps waiting a time period to allow you to calm down, and revisit the topic later. More often then not, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision as to whether you’ll post on the topic.
“Anything you say can, and will, be used against you.”
There is no such thing as “private” social media accounts.
Your “private” messages can be screen-captured and can still be shared without your knowledge.
Ask yourself – ‘are all of your social media “friends” actually a friend?’. Do you know them well enough to trust them with your career, education, reputation or family life?
“You have the right to have an attorney present”
Sure, I’m sure people will come to your defense on social media to some of your posts. But think about it, you’ve put yourself in a position where you need to be defended.
“If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you”
As stated above, you’ve created a situation where you “need to be defended” online. Another problem that creates is – you can’t choose your defenders. They may take your post “too far” and you could be to blame for their words as well!
Members of fringe organizations, or individuals whose profile pictures are offensive and do not represent your beliefs can quickly jump into the fray to “defend” you, but actually make things much worse.
“Do you understand your rights as they’ve been explained to you?”
Don’t be afraid to walk away from a debate. Put down your phone, walk away from your desktop, and do something that will make you happy and calm you.
Before posting, ask yourself “How is my life, career, or relationships going to practically benefit from this exchange?” If you don’t think you’ll see any positive results, then why engage in the conversation?
Un-follow or un-friend toxic people. You’re not obligated to give people access to you, or our family!
Remember: be kind to others. There are no two people exactly the same in this world, and everyone is entitled to their opinion. Some opinions may differ, but you should always respect each other, and each others rights to have those opinions.
T