22 Nov Think Before You Post on Social Media
Social media has aided the police in making arrests but do not put yourself in that position to be one of these people. You could subconsciously post something that does not make you think, “I can get in real trouble for posting this” such as posting a photo of you staring at a breathtaking view – but to get to that view, you had to trespass onto private property. Posting this photo may not resonate as a risk to you because so many people before you have done it. Plus, the police have more pressing matters to attend to, right?
The Growing Role of Social Media in Law Enforcement
Believe it or not, the police are growing departments that are dedicated to filtering through social media. Yes, they are looking for content like threats or evidence for an existing case. But they may happen upon an otherwise harmless post – like your beautiful Instagram photo – and they can take this up with you.
Additionally, you may never know what the public will say. Your content can go viral enough that the police feel the need to intervene and address the matter.
The Unexpected Consequences of a Social Media Post
You may not have done any harm and you may not be a threat to other people, but trespassing (as we are using in this example), is illegal and it most definitely can get you into some form of legal trouble. That is why we are telling you to be mindful about what you post on social media – always.