Think Before You Post

Teacher: "Hey, Sjors, I noticed you recently posted something on Instagram. You shared a funny photo of a classmate with a silly filter. Everyone laughed, but did you know that your classmate actually felt really bad about it?"

Sjors: "But sir, it was just a joke!"

Teacher: "Yes, but that one post went further than you realized. That classmate was laughed at in group chats that evening and felt so upset that they stayed home sick the next day. Their parents got worried and contacted the school. Because of the incident, the school decided to organize a talk about online behavior so everyone could understand the impact of a single post. Meanwhile, teachers had to focus on these conversations, which left less time for regular lessons. This led to an important test being postponed, affecting the whole class’s grades. One student failed to pass the year because of the delay and had to repeat. Their parents were so upset, they filed a complaint with the school board."

Sjors: "Sir, that can’t all be because of my one post, right?"

Teacher: "Maybe not exactly like that. But online actions can have much bigger consequences than you expect. What if someone shared a picture of you without your permission? Or posted something that could harm you later? One click, one post and the internet never forgets. So always think before you share."

Food for Thought

Before you post something online, ask yourself:

• Is it true?
• Is it meaningful?
• Is it necessary?
• Is it kind?
• Is it safe?

One post can go far. Make sure it goes in the right direction.