On Tuesday March 6 schools across the district broke into chaos because of a rumored threat which escalated on social media. This left many students scared to leave the classroom, and some to the point where they left school all together.
It’s obvious everyone has had enough of these threats and violence across the nation. But the challenge that we have today is understanding when the threats are credible or not.
This dichotomy is our new normal.
School shooters have used social media platforms to boast about their plans. Sometimes the real threats aren’t taken seriously because the same channels are crowded with the noise of rumors of violence. Social media is just as accessible to someone who wants to commit murder as it is to someone who wants to start a rumor.
If we choose to believe everything we see on social media, including rumors about potential violence, we would be living in constant panic.
This isn’t to say don’t believe viable threats, but rather not to automatically assume the worst.
The best way to avoid mass confusion is for everybody to consider taking a couple minutes to calm down before reacting.
Prior to the recent Parkland mass shooting, the gunman showed early warning signs. Among other things, he referred to himself as “a school shooter” on social media. This fell largely on deaf ears. While he was reported to the FBI two times before, he wasn’t given the attention that, in retrospect, he deserved.
Contrast that with our recent experience at Northview. According to numerous accounts, rumored threats were made over social media creating havoc and sometimes fear for students, parents and faculty. This escalated quickly with little regard for the background of those making the “threats” or their legitimacy in general.
Part of what escalates the initial rumor or threat are the people who take it out of context. False information is spread causing more fear than is necessary.
The faculty at the high school worked hard to create a calm environment for the students.
We can learn from this measured approach where facts were separated from rumors, resulting in a thoughtful course of action.
Full transparency is just as important in these situations. If there is concern that only partial information–or none at all–is being shared, distrust in the authenticity of the information will be amplified.
Remember, it’s important to get the full story. Wait for perspective from school authorities, or validation from reliable sources to be communicated in a timely manner.
Just because someone posts something on social media doesn’t mean it’s true.