FBI Reminds You to ‘Think Before You Post’ in Illinois

I don't know how often I have told my kids that things put on the internet will never disappear. We've all seen countless stories of bad social media decisions, turned life-altering events. In today's digital world, a single social media post can truly change your life forever.

What you type in that moment of frustration, humor, or carelessness won't just disappear after you "delete it." In some cases it could lead to serious legal consequences. The FBI has been working to raise awareness about this reality, reminding people, especially young social media users, to think before they post.

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A Joke? Or a Crime?

Every year, the FBI receives thousands of reports about online threats. Many of these come from people who never intended to cause harm. However, they still find themselves under investigation. In our current world, authorities don't take chances when it comes to potential threats. That's especially the case when it relates to mass violence. One chilling example is that of a Chicago college student, Jabari Dean, who posted a violent threat online in November of 2015. He deleted the posted threats almost immediately, but the damage had been done. Someone in an entirely different state reported it, and soon after, the FBI arrested him.

The student later admitted he hadn't realized the impact his words would have. Now, he faces lifelong consequences for a post that was online for less than a minute. He has since become the subject of the FBI's campaign "Think Before You Post."

Real-World Consequences in Illinois

Illinois has seen multiple cases where social media posts have led to criminal charges, arrests, and public fallout:

• Chicago Torture Incident (2017):Four individuals livestreamed a brutal attack on a mentally disabled teenager. Their decision to share their crime on Facebook resulted in hate crime charges and lengthy prison sentences.
• Peru Teen's Instagram Video Leads to Arrest (2018): A 16-year-old posted a 13-second video on Instagram showing an individual displaying a firearm in a threatening manner. Although the video was quickly removed, it was seen by students in Ottawa who reported it to their school resource officer. This led to the teen's arrest on drug charges.
• Harvard Man's Racially Derogatory Posts (2018): In Harvard, Illinois, a man's racially offensive social media posts drew the attention of law enforcement. While investigating these posts, authorities discovered unrelated drug offenses, leading to his arrest.
• Yorkville Girl's Social Media Posts (2018): In Yorkville, Illinois, a girl's social media activity prompted a criminal sexual assault investigation. Her parents reached out to the police after discovering the post.
• Joliet School Threats (2024): A 12-year-old was arrested for posting threats of violence against schools on social media. Even as a minor, they faced felony charges and a disrupted future.
• Chicago School Board Scandal (2024): A school board president resigned after past antisemitic and misogynistic social media posts resurfaced, proving that what you say online can follow you for years.

In some cases, there were crimes to be discovered, and in other instances lies or "stories" led to lasting damage to the individuals' lives, like below.

The Internet is Forever

One of the biggest misconceptions that people (especially young people) have is that deleting a post makes it go away. Those people are forgetting about screenshots, digital footprints, and the ability of law enforcement to track online activity. Once something is posted, you lose control over who sees it, shares it, or reports it. Take a few seconds to protect yourself before you hit post.

• Could this be misinterpreted as a threat?
• Would I say this to someone’s face?
• How would I feel if this resurfaced years from now?
• Could this cause harm, legal trouble, or libel?

If the answer to any of these questions makes you hesitate, do the smart thing and don’t post it. The message should be a clear one: words have power. In today’s digital world, they can even have lasting consequences. Whether it's a poorly worded joke, a moment of anger, or an attempt to get attention, the FBI and local law enforcement take every online threat seriously today. Think before you post — because one click can change your life.