First Lady warns of social media risks as president rants online
Melania Trump warned yesterday about the ‘‘destructive and harmful’’ impact of using social media incorrectly – while her husband was busy settling scores with typically aggressive messages on Twitter.
America’s First Lady used a speech at a cyber-bullying prevention conference to stress the importance of teaching children about the ‘‘safe and responsible use of social media’’. Yet as she was issuing the warning on the outskirts of Washington yesterday morning, the president was in another part of the city sending barbed tweets.
The US president wrote that Robert Mueller, the man leading the Russian election meddling probe, was ‘‘disgraced and discredited’’, and called John Brennan, the former CIA director, the agency’s worst leader in history.
A spokesman for Melania Trump played down any link between the First Lady’s comments and the president’s tweeting. Melania Trump formally launched her ‘‘Be Best’’ campaign aimed at promoting the well-being of children in May. Appearing at the Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention cyberbullying prevention summit yesterday, she delivered a short speech. ‘‘In today’s global society, social media is an inevitable part of our children’s daily lives,’’ she said. ‘‘It can be used in many positive ways, but can also be destructive and harmful when used incorrectly. That is why Be Best chooses to focus on the importance of teaching our next generation how to conduct themselves safely and in a positive manner in an online setting.’’
Stephanie Grisham, the First Lady’s communications director, was asked why Melania Trump continues to engage on cyberbullying prevention when her husband uses Twitter to insult people.
She responded: ‘‘The First Lady’s presence at events such as today’s cyber-bullying summit elevates an issue that is important to children and families across this country. She is aware of the criticism but it will not deter her from doing what she feels is right.– Telegraph Group