From as early as elementary school, many students received online citizenship education. Whether it was through a class or an assembly, proper online behavior has been repeatedly impressed upon today’s youth. By contrast, elders who grew up without modern technology never had to consider issues such as cyberbullying. In light of recent events, it’s time for those adults to reevaluate their online behavior.

Flower Mound Cares, a Facebook page originally intended for local political discussion, is now littered with comments that attack residents and businesses. These remarks come from adults, not the “thoughtless teenagers” one might expect. For this behavior to come from the community leaders is frankly unacceptable.

As teens clean up their internet acts for college, their parents and neighbors are doing the opposite. Teenagers still post dumb things sometimes, but that’s to be expected. However, that behavior is expected to diminish with maturity. In Flower Mound, that has not been the case. In fact, high schoolers are often appalled by the online behavior of their community leaders. A bully is still a bully no matter the age.

Some of the biggest problems are posts targeting minors, name calling, and abusive language. All it takes is one post from a disgruntled citizen and the online comments pile on. It doesn’t take long before these comments are so malicious they must be taken down. This mob mentality is dangerous to the community because it damages the reputations of individuals and businesses. Students sit through assemblies almost annually about putting themselves in the other person’s shoes before posting, and yet it seems the adults in this town need to relearn that Golden Rule. These remarks made behind a screen are so strongly worded and spiteful that it is hard to believe that someone would say these types of things in person.

This kind of behavior, particularly coming from adults, tarnishes the name of Flower Mound. The town’s name can be found on numerous lists of top places to live in the country. In recent years, the online presence of community leaders has also caught the attention of media outlets. A town with such great schools, award winning fine arts and athletics programs, and a strong local economy surely doesn’t want its legacy to be a bunch of adults acting like whining children online. Furthermore, the town’s youth are watching their elders, and frankly, they are not impressed.

Flower Mound Cares in and of itself is not a terrible platform. There are many polite, respectful individuals that post. However, over the past few years, it has been overwhelmed with drama and gossip. A little negativity goes a long way. As of right now, this Facebook page requires approval from an administrator to join, but anyone can view posts and comments from members. Additionally, while the particularly ugly posts are often deleted, they are never truly gone.

Screenshots and word of mouth enable controversy to live on long after the post is removed. Having such venom on this open page means that the kids in this town have a front row seat to the behavior of community leaders. What could be a great platform to involve kids in local issues is doing nothing but cause them to lose respect for the adults in this community.

Unfortunately, society tends to remember the bad—not the good. That’s why it is so important to think about what is being posted before it is made public. The same rules that are being imprinted upon young children also need to be brought up to their parents.
It’s time for the adults of Flower Mound to clean up their online presence. It shouldn’t be the responsibility of high school students to remind them how to be a good example.

To the adults of Flower Mound, the world is watching. They will judge this town by your behavior. More importantly, your children are watching. They will follow where you lead. As teens in this community, we are asking you to lead us in the right direction.