Social Media is a way for students and their peers to connect, but has misuse of social platforms incited violence on campus? Redwood staff were asked how social media has impacted campus safety.
By: Annalissa Lira
Social media connects students—but is it also fueling real-life conflict on campus? At Redwood, staff say the answer is yes.
Platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok are often used to mock or expose peers, sparking drama that spills into fights. Screenshots escalate misunderstandings, and videos of altercations spread quickly, putting pressure on students to defend their reputations and disrupting campus safety.
Ms. Sanchez, former health teacher and current english teacher, who has worked at both Redwood and Divisadero, said, “When social media is not supervised by parents or when students don’t understand the bigger consequences of what they post… that contributes to a lot of not only hurt feelings but social and emotional issues.”
Ms. Sanchez said, “I saw a lot of cliques that were friends one day and then not friends the next. I feel like if parents just kind of supervise their children’s social media… it could limit a lot of these issues.”
Mr. Orosco, freshman assistant principal, said, “It’s more like what they used to call subtweeting… once you have said those things you can’t take them back and people will expect you to act on them.”
Mr. Marty Silvas
Photo E.Abney/Gigantea
Mr. Silvas, a campus supervisor also known as Marty, said, “It’s a lot easier to talk badly about somebody… because you’re not facing that person.”
Ms. Vaca, the newest addition to the disciplinary staff, said, “When students are making certain claims… it’s from their one perspective, it’s not giving the full picture. Social media allows for people to make certain statements and claims that may not necessarily be the facts.”
Redwood Principal Dr. Brandon Gridiron said, “Social media has become more about entertainment. Violence has generated more attention. Students now, their first response is to bring out their phones to capture the moment, that post gets likes, and the drama continues.”
On the topic of reporting social media threats, staff encourage students to speak up.
Ms. Sanchez said, “At the end of the day, it’s about being safe and being responsible. If it were you in that video I would hope you want someone to stand up for you”
Photo F.Anguiano/Gigantea
Mr. Silvas said, “I remember how it felt as a kid, you didn’t want to be that person labelled as a snitch… but I would recommend if anybody feels unsafe, that they communicate that to us.”
Mr. Orosco said, “There’s a hard line on snitching…if someone is going to get hurt and you tell someone, that’s just being a caring citizen.”
Ms. Vaca said, “The only way that anyone can do something about it is if we know… doing the right thing is doing the right thing.”
Staff also reflected on generational differences.
Mr. Orosco said, “We didn’t have social media, now it seems like it’s much easier to hide… social media has made people more bold.”
Photo N. Miller/Redwood Gigantea
Ms. Vaca said, “Fights have always been around…but social media is just another avenue for people to create drama.”
Dr. Gridiron said, “If we had an issue we either fought it out and shook hands or talked about it, but it was dead after that.”
Staff Continue to encourage students to use the “Say Something” app to report incidents or tell a trusted adult in order to keep the campus and other students safe.
Dr. Gridiron said, “Snitches get stitches is something people just adopted but what they don’t realize is if your friend was in a serious situation the best thing you can do is say something.”
Annalissa Lira
Tags: rangers, Redwood, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, redwood social media, Redwood staff, rhs, rhs social media, rhs staff, social media, the branch, visalia ca
