The Irving Police Department is urging parents to teach their kids not to act like idiots on social media.
This, as Irving Police have seen a spike in students posting threats on social media.
"Some of it just being a generalized statement, some of it being threats directed towards certain campuses within our city here since April 1st," said department spokesman Ofc. Robert Reeves.
While the kids may think they're joking, law enforcement is not laughing.
"Threats to commit violence where there's large populated areas, or to anyone specifically, is definitely taken very seriously," said Reeves. "You put out some type of a threat of harm to the school, you're looking at a Class A misdemeanor. You add a gun in that picture, you're looking at a third degree felony. You possess a firearm on campus, you're looking at a second degree felony."
Since April 1st, Irving Police have arrested ten students for posting threats on social media, including one for displaying a firearm on social media and two for possessing a firearm on campus.
"This is not only going to get them a criminal charge, but they can be looking at jail time," Reeves said. "The family is going to be looking at a great expense for fines and lawyer fees and court fees."
Anything that's posted on social media is out there forever.
"You really shouldn't be posting things on social media that you wouldn't want the whole world to know that you were the one that posted it, because anything you put out there is always there," said Reeves. "It's permanently there (and) it's able to be tracked back to you."
Bottom line -- always assume your social media posts will be displayed in Times Square in the middle of the day.
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