Think before you send

On March 30, Rockville Centre’s Drug, Alcohol and Violence Prevention Task Force hosted the Don’t Press Send Campaign to address the need for parent and child dialogue as social media becomes a bigger aspect of everyday life.

More than 150 members of the community attended the presentation to learn and show their support. The Don’t Press Send Campaign, founded by Katie Schumacher, is a program designed to provide parents and students with guidelines and strategies for navigating technology in its many forms. Schumacher’s mission is to highlight the risks of online interactions as well as help students use their devices in a careful and positive way.

Dr. Noreen Leahy, assistant superintendent of special education and pupil services, began the evening by emphasizing the unfamiliarity of today’s technology. For most parents, learning the ins and outs of social media is like learning a new language. She said it is more important than ever for parents to fully understand the cyber community before allowing children to partake in these potentially harmful activities.

Two key components of Schumacher’s presentation were mindfulness and empathy. She educated the audience about the importance of being present, despite the engrossing effects of social media. She also said it is vital for children to be reminded of empathy and its key role in maintaining healthy relationships. Due to the emotional barrier between humans and the screen, children and adults often act on impulse without having to deal with the complications of a face-to-face confrontation.

Aside from social media’s direct link to un-kindness, Schumacher suggested that there is always an escape hatch. Deleting, un-friending, unfollowing or simply walking away are just some ways to escape uncomfortable situations. It is essential for students and parents to “digitally detox” and be mindful during life’s key moments, instead of planning how and when you are going to share that moment with others.

Growing up is a time where mistakes are made by all, yet those mistakes should not have to be documented for the world to see. The RVC Don’t Press Send Campaign Parent Committee strives to continue to spread the message of online kindness, in the hope that it will inspire students to “pause before they post.”

On May 7, which is Dare To Care Day, the Parent Committee encourages all residents to partake in a social media challenge day. Parents, teachers and students are invited to wear red in support of safe, positive communication. With the support of the community, Dare to Care Day can become an annual reminder of how to handle technology in a respectful way.