Thoughts are fleeting, but social media is forever.

That’s what former Teen Vogue Editor in Chief Alexi McCammond had to learn the hard way. McCammond was just about to step into her new position as editor in chief when offensive tweets from her adolescence resurfaced, prompting Condé Nast, Teen Vogue’s parent company, to release a memo on Thursday, March 18, saying they were going to “part ways” with McCammond.

The tweets were homophobic and derogatory toward Asians, shocking many, especially in a time when violence against Asian Americans and members of the LGBTQ+ community are pressing social issues.

“I should not have tweeted what I did and I have taken full responsibility for that,” McCammond wrote in an apology on Twitter.

Mireya Rajendran, sophomore, is the founder of the Psychology Club, a student organization that aims to educate members and others at MHS about the human mind. She said teens need to think before they post to avoid situations like McCammond’s.

“[Teens] forget to consider that the moment they click ‘post,’ they are sharing something with the world that won’t disappear even if they choose to delete it,” she said.

Rajendran recommends that before teens post, they make sure to ask themselves questions from the perspective of a follower on social media.

“How would that [follower] feel?” she said.“Would they be offended? Would they feel any other negative emotions? If the answer is yes, it would be best to refrain from posting.”

Brain structure might also impact what teens post, said Danielle Potts, school psychologist at MHS and Kehrs Mill Elementary.

“The frontal cortex, or area of the brain responsible for logical reasoning and decision making, is still developing and maturing during the teen years,” she said.

The amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for immediate reactions, actually develops first, Potts said. The actions of teenagers are guided more by the emotional and reactive amygdala, making them susceptible to impulsive behavior.

Emily Webb, counselor at Wild Horse Elementary, said an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex does not mean teens lack the ability to make good choices, or be responsible and accountable, but it can lead teenagers to perform rash actions.

Webb said because the prefrontal cortex is not functioning at full capacity, teens have to pick up some skills that come naturally to adults.

“Teens have to learn decision-making strategies, empathy, self-control. These are all traits that can be taught,” she said.

Adding to the premature state of the adolescent brain, quickness and availability of social media can influence what teens share.

Amber Kharawala, sophomore, also in the Psychology Club, said teens should definitely be held accountable for what they say on social media or otherwise.

“Being young doesn’t excuse racist or offensive behavior,” she said.

Kharawala said society should help teenagers learn from their mistakes and show them why what they said or posted is wrong.

Senior Jessica Zhang, a member of the Asian-American community, said McCammond’s words were inexcusable.

“I don’t appreciate people who are trying to excuse this behavior, [and the argument] that ‘we all say dumb things when we’re young’,” she said. “Her comments weren’t ‘dumb’. They were racist and homophobic.”

Zhang said Asian Americans are usually told they’re too sensitive, which normalizes things like McCammond’s behavior and sparks internalized racism.

“While I do have mixed emotions about [McCammond’s] apology statement, it’s up to each individual Asian American to decide how they feel,” she said. “No one should be telling them to ‘get over it’ if they don’t accept her apology.”

This story was originally published on Marquette Messenger on April 18, 2021.