ReMARCable Blog Follow-up: Ask.fm Tied to Entire High School Football Team’s Suspension

Seems like a no-nonsense high school football coach may have watched our recent interview about the controversial Ask.fm app. Matt Labrum of Union High School in Roosevelt, Utah suspended his whole team after he found out some players were using the social media site to bully a fellow student. 

As we reported last week, Ask.fm is anonymous–users can harass others without getting caught. Sure, it can be used positively, but sadly, it’s also been linked by prominent media outlets like Buzzfeed and the New York Times  to a rash of teen suicides.

Labrum, tired of hearing reports of falling grades, poor behavior and cyber-bullying on Ask.fm by his players, sent a clear message to his 80-person team.  Shape up, now! The suspension only lasted one day, but he reinforced his point by requiring players to do community service in lieu of practicing for an upcoming game. The players seem to be cleaning up their act. The team elected five new football team captains as soon as their team was reinstated.

In case you missed it, On The Marc Media’s Marc Silverstein talks with McAfee Online Security Expert Robert Siciliano  about the Ask.FM. Siciliano’s advice to parents is simple: they need to monitor every aspect of their children’s online activity—and learn how to use every app and device their kids have access to. For those parents worried about infringing on their children’s privacy, Siciliano has a blunt reply: “Trust is overrated.”

To read and watch the On The Marc Media exclusive, click here.