FBI warns community to think before posting on social media

After a teenager was arrested for making threats online, the FBI warns the public to “think before you post” on social media.

FBI Special Agent Keith Byers told ABC-7 students and parents should take the use of social media very seriously.

“We are trying to educate the public, teachers, and students about the risks and threats that come with posting hoax’s and false threats,” Byers said

Byers said the FBI will also be working with school districts to convey social media safety.

An 18-year-old is in federal custody after a threat to local schools was posted from his social media accounts Wednesday, August 22.

Students were startled when ABC-7 told them the FBI was investigating that online threat to an El Paso school.

“They’re going to be taken serious, threats are always taken serious,” one student said.

“It is pretty serious, if that ever happened it would be very scary,” another said.

Ernesto Mendoza a parent told ABC-7 he educates his two children of the dangers of social media.

“We certainly need to monitor it, this is the world we live in. So that puts more importance on the human aspect of it,” Mendoza said. “Having conversations with your kids, yourself, put your phone down. Show them you can converse without your phone on.”