In 2017, Harvard rescinded acceptances to a group of youth because their online behavior, in the form of memes, was offensive. Read more about it here. Well, it’s almost back to school which means it’s time to remind your kids that their stupid behavior as teenagers, when preserved online, can really come back to haunt them.

Here’s a more recent example of a young person having his future stalled, when Harvard discovered the comments he made online as a 16-year-old. Is this fair? Well, that’s not the point! Rather, the point to drive home to your young people is that:

There is no such thing as privacy. In the example here, the offensive remarks were made in a google doc thought to be private.

Think before you post, on social media, in text threads, google docs, anywhere! If you think what you are writing or about to post is offensive enough to have you be considered a racist or a bully, just don’t do it. Confused about if something is inappropriate, ask yourself if you would send it to your grandparents. If the answer is no, then you have your answer!

At Savvy Cyber Kids, we promote #TechnologyForGood. Which is another way of saying,  #WatchYourDigitalTrailBehindYouBeforeItSmacksYouInTheA$$!

Savvy Cyber Kids educates and empowers digital citizens, from parents and grandparents, to teachers and students. Sign up for our free resources to help you navigate today’s digital world with cyber ethics. See more cyber safety and cyber ethics blogs produced exclusively for EarthLink. Looking for a social media parental control? Try a 30-day free trial of Bark. If you sign up after your trial, Bark donates 25% of your monthly fee to Savvy Cyber Kids.

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