Thank you Sonoma Sun

I appreciate that you did not share that video and placed the concern for two kids ahead of clicks and traffic. The bigger story can still be told without compromising children’s dignity and by being the adult in the room. I took some flack myself for not allowing that video on any pages or groups I administrate and I stand by that for several reasons.
1.) They are minor children and their parents/guardians did not give consent to their image being shared on news sites.
2.) They are minor children and it was/is unknown if they are in the foster system which would make it illegal to post/share their image in still or video photography.
3.) The young woman in the video has parts of her body exposed and she once again, is a minor child.
4.) These are kids. Kids. One more time: kids.
It’s important that the adults in the room step up and be the adults and protect children when they don’t make good choices, or are upset or in danger or are in any way in need of adult support. They are children and they are still learning the right things to do or not do and they depend on us to stand up and set the example and help them up when they fall.
Standing up and saying “No. I won’t support the exploitation” may not make you the most popular person in the room but it will make you the ethical person in the room. So thank you Sonoma Sun for doing the right thing. As a social media professional I have internet ethics as well. It’s important to stand up for your profession and demonstrate the right thing to do when the moments present themselves. Children are off limits. Always. Period. No questions asked. It’s important to maintain that standard and for that I applaud you.
– Celeste Winters (via Facebook)