Dear Shayna B.,
I recently went to a party and my friends started posting videos of me and putting them online. I was really upset about it and asked them to remove it. Was I overreacting or do you think I was right to be upset?
Sincerely,Permission Poster Perri
Dear PPP,
You were absolutely right to be upset. It’sOK not to feel comfortable sharing stuff about yourself. You aren’t alone. And although there is peer pressure, don’t be coerced! It is your body and you’re the one who decides where it shows up. Whether it’s TikTok or Snapchat, if you don’t want to be on it say NO. Don’t feel guilty. Don’t feel pressured. NO MEANS NO! If you want to be cool and liked, just show off your awesome personality! Remember that kid who wanted to hang out with you? Go hang out with them. And if you don’t, I’ve been learning about people who are hunter gatherers, and since they don’t have phones, you can always live with them.
Best of luck,Shayna B.
Shayna is a sixth grader and knows what kids in elementary school and middle school are going through. She can be reached at [email protected]. She’s looking forward to hearing from you! Contact [email protected]
