The co-creator of the program “Worries of the World Wide Web”, Kane County Judge Susan Clancy Boles, explained the many challenges of social media facing teens during this week’s Rotary meeting. Her program hopes to help teens avoid criminal issues in court and is certified by the Illinois Judges Association. Launched in 2015, it is the outcome of Judge Bole’s observation that teens do not understand the serious ramifications of certain messages and photos shared via social media channels. She warned that what may be thought of as private sharing of an item can easily turn into widespread sharing causing embarrassment or harm.
Judge Boles said understanding social media trends and impact is a topic for parents as well as teens. She said there needs to be ways to open up frank discussions between parents and children on messages shared through social media channels. She explained how there needs to be accountability when harassment and school threats are made. Her hope is that the proactive dialogue on these topics as a result of her web awareness program can bring a reality check to content shared and stored on mobile phones and the internet. Judge Boles sees this as a way to s avoid the path that could lead to issues becoming a formal judicial matter.