by Cynthia Caron
You could be liable if you are not wise to situations
involving missing loved ones, especially children!!
While this may seem harsh...it is important to protect those
whose photos are going around saying they are missing. We do not know if they
are being stalked or legitimate missing loved ones?
Here are a few policies at LostNMissing Inc and most of
those who are advocates for missing should adhere to the same when posting on
social media sites :
1. We cannot post missing children without a registration at
our org so that we can verify with police if it is a minor under the age of 18.
Their immediate family/guardian (who have legal custody) must register them and
will be asked to sign a form allowing us to distribute the photo of their minor
child. THE ONLY EXCEPTIONS are posters from the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children....and media news alerts of missing children.
2. We cannot post missing adults...EVER...without a police
contact phone number to verify they are missing and only will share posters
that contain police phone numbers.
3. Missing Adults who have alerts in the media news can be
posted.
If you have a friend, or a friend of a friend, who has a
missing minor child under 18....please tell them to call 1-800-THE-LOST right
away (NCMEC) and their local police department. Advise them if they are going
to post their missing child's photo to use the name of the reporting police
agency and the case number, otherwise...it could be viewed as someone just
"stalking" someone or a non custodial parent , or otherwise, trying
to find a child's location. THIS IS CRITICAL. Be wise. Protect our youth. ASK
for this info before taking a "friend" on Facebook's word that their
child is missing. We recently saw this happen not even two weeks ago in which
the person looking for a child was NOT the legal guardian and portrayed as if
the child was a runaway from their own home...when in fact upon police
confirmation....that person did not have custody nor rights to that child and
the child was with a parent in protective custody. BE WISE.
Respectfully,
Cynthia Caron
President/Founder
LostNMissing, Inc.
Cynthia Caron
President/Founder
LostNMissing, Inc.
Cynthia! Wow! This is a great post...a word to the wise... I'm still in my infancy in understanding the "far reaching powers" of social media and always defer to those who know better than I.
ReplyDeleteYour advice means that everyone has to be vigilant ..and not let their heartstrings rule their head when a child is involved!
Thanks!
Donna "Ladyjustice"
wwww.donnagore.com