Since 2011, incidents of incivility and cyberbullying online has increased nearly threefold, according to statistics compiled by WalkTheRidge.org. This trend, unfortunately, is not predicted to decline. Rather more than 81 percent of 1,500 leaders and technology experts that were selected by the Pew Internet Research Center believe we will see this, at best, stay the same, but likely get even worse over the next decade. Experts are predicting that as many as 40 percent of all Americans will be digitally shamed. To address “the incivility of social media,” Character Counts and the Carroll campus of Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) will be hosting a special panel discussion at noon on Wednesday, June 19 in room 142 at DMACC. The group consists of a broad spectrum of individuals from a variety of different industries including: college instructors, local publishers, high school students, an attorney and a pastor. They will touch on the ways social media has changed how we work, whether it is a hindrance or a help to improving civility, how relationships affect communication on social media and how social media affects communication in relationships, ways to check on-line information and more. Lunch will be provided, a free-will donation is appreciated to help defray the cost of the meal. A full listing of panel members can be found here.
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Panel Members:
Jen Schulte, DMACC instructor
Peter Leo, attorney, Manning
Cindy Johnson, pastor, St. John Lutheran Church, Carroll
Charlie Nixon, publisher, Coon Rapids Enterprise
Luke Woosley, Carroll High School student
Joshua Tigges, Kuemper Catholic High School student
Moderator: Lisa Dreesman, DMACC library-media specialist
