Social media has turned the way the world communicates on its head. Human connections are now being expressed through algorithms and text generated from a device the size of an adult person’s palm. The instant nature of the connection is further enhanced by instant messaging programs that are often part of social media platforms. Something propels people to document their lives and post personal things online in the interest of “keeping up appearances.” While this might give them a momentary increase in self-esteem, it also decreases their self-control regarding what they choose to post, which can do more harm than good.
As a result, for all the perceived good being shared on online platforms – like that photo of last night’s perfect pot roast, all those Facebook posts about how amazing your kids are doing at school, and the inspirational quotes supposedly meant to brighten someone’s day – it isn’t all wholesome, happy times online. After all, there are only so many cute pictures of kids, puppies, and kittens you can post before followers begin to cringe. Even funny status updates aren’t enough now. Instead, some friends and family members are upping the ante by sharing pictures of rows of shot glasses, a joint, or people partaking in dangerous (illegal) drugs with hundreds of their contacts, with just one click. Is this you? Here’s some reasons why it shouldn’t be:
Bragging about anything on social media is annoying
Boast posts are everywhere on social media, sometimes couched with phrases like, “I am so humbled,” and “So blessed!” which are actually saying, “Admire me. I am amazing.” Not surprisingly, such posts typically elicit envy, jealousy, and other negative emotions and do not serve any useful, informative purpose. More than anything, bragging on social media conveys negative information about the sender. As Shakespeare said over 400 years ago (before social media became a thing) in All’s Well That Ends Well, “Who knows himself as a braggart, let him fear this, for it will come to pass that every braggart shall be found an ass.”
You’re encouraging adolescents to use drugs
A 2022 study from the University of Queensland (Australia) looked at nearly 16 million social media posts on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Weibo and found that the majority of the posts depicting drug and alcohol use portrayed it in a positive light. This depiction concerned the researchers because adolescents and young adults are the heaviest users of social media, spending an average of eight hours a day online. So, unless you’re a drug dealer looking to boost their drug sales to middle and high schoolers, you have nothing to gain and plenty to use when you post about your escapades with drugs online.
You have no control over who reads your posts
You can take some measures to customize your social media privacy settings to try and control who sees your posts, but many people don’t know how to do it, the default settings are usually public, and there really is no foolproof way to keep certain people from seeing your content. For example, in 2019, a Tennessee woman took to social media to brag about having gotten away with giving a false name and stashing drugs inside a police cruiser. Unfortunately, an informant read her posts and subsequently reported her to the police. They investigated and recovered 10.5 grams of crystal meth and two boxes of Suboxone strips from a hidden compartment originally believed to be part of the vehicle.
You might implicate your dealer
Throwing a drug dealer under the bus is almost never a good idea – unless you’re a police informant or are somehow being protected from retaliation or self-incrimination. When the pandemic forced many to retreat to an online existence, people (including drug dealers) spent most of their time on social media. Although dealers like selling drugs on the internet because it offers a convenient and fast way to sell drugs. Also, online illegal drug deals help them avoid law enforcement. However, when you brag about your drug score on social media and leave some clues regarding who hooked you up, you will have effectively blown their cover and they’re likely to come looking for you, since social media makes it pretty easy to find someone. Generally speaking, you don’t want to make your drug dealer angry enough to come looking for you.
You’re likely going to get arrested
Bragging on social media has one purpose: to bring attention to the person who is posting. However, sometimes this attention has negative consequences, as was the case when three adults and one juvenile were arrested in New York on gun and drug charges after they boasted online about gun violence. The posts caught the attention of the York City Police, who were investigating a shooting death and eventually led to four search warrants that netted 2.5 pounds of marijuana, 110 grams of cocaine, 19 grams of heroin, 59 grams of crack cocaine, and three firearms – one that was stolen and another turned into an automatic weapon.
If you’re facing drug charges in Annapolis or Ellicott City (regardless of whether you posted about drugs on social media or not), you can trust me to represent you in court and help you navigate the process. I will make sure you are treated fairly (even if you’re a bit of a braggart) – as long as you stay off social media. Call Drew Cochran, Attorney at Law today or use my contact form to set up an initial consultation.
Just remember – Keep Calm, and Call Drew!
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