Local law enforcement leaders, school district representatives and students came together Tuesday morning at Educational Service District (ESD) 112 to launch Report, Don’t Repost: Choose Care Over Clicks, a new regional initiative encouraging community members to report concerning online content rather than share it on social media.
The news conference brought together representatives from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Vancouver Police Department, Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA), ESD 112 and Clark County public school districts to share a unified message: When you see something concerning online, report it to someone who can help rather than reposting it.
“When a concerning post gets shared over and over, it can become much harder to trace where it started and determine what’s actually happening,” said Clark County Sheriff John Horch. “We know people often share these posts because they want to protect others, but the most helpful thing you can do is screenshot the concerning post and report it directly to law enforcement. That gives investigators the details they need to assess the situation and take action.”
The grant-funded initiative was developed in response to an ongoing challenge facing schools across the region: the rapid spread of online threats, rumors and misinformation.
John Anzalone, Camas School District superintendent
“Our students deserve to feel safe and supported at school, and our staff need accurate information so they can respond quickly,” said John Anzalone, superintendent of Camas School District. “By reporting concerns instead of reposting them, students and families become important partners in keeping students safe.”
Addi Junke, 11th grade student at Prairie High School, spoke at the news conference about why it is more helpful to report concerning social media content than share it with friends.
“As students, we want to look out for our friends, but forwarding a post isn’t always the best way to do that,” said Juhnke. “Even if you’re not sure how serious something is, telling a trusted adult or reporting it can make a much bigger difference than sharing it with more people.”
Addi Juhnke, Prairie High School student (left) and Chelsea Quiggle, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (right)
To help community members take action, Report Don’t Repost provides guidance on when and where to report concerning online content. The site also includes a communications toolkit with materials schools and community organizations can use to reinforce the message.
ESD 112 equalizes educational opportunities for learning communities through innovative partnerships, responsive leadership, and exceptional programs.