The #TeacherBae Controversy

Last month, Social media exploded when pictures of an Atlanta paraprofessional - dubbed #TeacherBae hit the Internet. The controversy got to the point when #TeacherBae (we will not use her real name), had to be reprimanded for her dress and use of social media activity.

The curvy educator's photos, which were shared on Instagram had social media in an uproar - asking the question - is this appropriate attire for a classroom teacher to wear? Some came to her defense, accusing critics of trying to body shame the teacher.

Both sides are missing the point.

This isn't a question of appropriate attire, or even an attempt at body shamming. It's more about the appropriate use of social media and the unintended consequences.

We're in an age where nearly 78 percent of the U.S. has an active social media profile, according to data from www.statista.com. That's a five percent increase in users since 2015!

But while there has been an increase in the use of social media, there has not been an increase in the awareness the content that is published. Just because you can do it, doesn't mean you should! This is especially prevalent when you post photos taken at the work place, like this Atlanta paraprofessional did!  Had  #TeacherBae not used the school as a back drop for her photos, she probably would not have gotten in trouble, or drawn the 'nationwide' attention that she did.

There are numerous accounts of people getting fired over social media posts. Some are more extreme than others. Now was #TeacherBae's situation worth getting fired over? No. Not even close. But the attention she brought to the school probably was a bit of a distraction. Thus, she was probably told not to take pics inside the classroom anymore. End of story!