I have two absolutes when it comes to the Presidency. It doesn’t matter to me who the President is. It doesn’t matter if you agree with their platform or not, these still apply.
- You leave the (minor) children of the President alone.
- You do not threaten the life of the President or the office it represents.
On Friday during President Trump’s Inauguration, Katie Rich, a writer for Saturday Night Live, posted on her personal Twitter account. The tweet took aim at Trump’s ten year old son, Barron. In my opinion, under no circumstances should the children of the President be the focus of jokes or harassment.
Within a day, Katie Rich had removed her Twitter account. Her name was not listed in Saturday’s SNL credits. That is evident of the quick response of the power of a single tweet.
Her account was reactivated today with the message: “I sincerely apologize for the insensitive tweet. I deeply regret my actions & offensive words. It was inexcusable & I’m so sorry.” – Katie Rich of ‘S.N.L.’ Is Suspended for Tweet Mocking Barron Trump, the New York Times.
The ultimate consequences of this tweet are yet to be worked out. Reports say that Katie Rich has been suspended by SNL. People are calling for her to be fired.
When we discuss the power of social media with students, I sometimes hear “but it’s just my personal account.” In this case, it wasn’t a professional account that may have ended a career.
Every time a person posts on social media, they must expect that each letter, word, connotation, and implied idea could be analyzed.
One’s life can change with the power of a single tweet.
Your Perspective: Do you have any absolutes on what should not be written in social media or the news?