Group chats can be a quick and easy way to stay in touch with friends. With a single message, you can share jokes, rant about your least favorite professor, or make plans to meet up later – and within seconds, several of your favorite people will be in the know. But just like anything, group chats can have a dark side. If one member of your group starts sharing messages, links, or images that are threatening or offensive – particularly if they refer to a specific individual, team, or group at your school – it is possible everyone on the thread could be held responsible for the content.

If you have been involved in a questionable group chat and are now facing possible disciplinary action at school, it is important you understand the consequences and how an experienced education attorney-advisor can help.

Possible Consequences of Harmful Group Chats

Here's something important to remember about anything you put online, even in seemingly off-the-grid direct messaging apps: It might seem private, but anyone can take a screenshot and post it somewhere public where everyone can see it, including your school administrators. Text messages aren't as secure as you think, either – in most cases, the cell phone provider can access them. This means you'll want to think twice before taking part in any chats that seem harmful or offensive, as students at schools across the country have received disciplinary actions for using hate speech on social media platforms and via text.

In general, most schools broadly prohibit any kind of written or verbal communication that may be considered vulgar or abusive toward other students, including racist comments or any type of language that is discriminatory against another group of people. These communications are detailed in the code of conduct at most institutions, with possible consequences including suspension or even expulsion from your school. Typically an investigation will take place to determine who actually initiated and participated in the exchange, but if you were an innocent bystander on a thread of messages that took a turn for the worse, don't assume you're in the clear. If you're facing any kind of investigation for a group chat gone awry, contact an attorney-advisor today to help protect your reputation and your education.

How an Experienced Education Attorney Can Help

If you've been caught up in an unfortunate situation involving an offensive group chat that has been made public or reported to school administrators, and you're now facing a possible investigation or disciplinary action, now is the time to contact a knowledgeable education attorney-advisor who can help you fight for your rights. Student rights attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm have helped hundreds of students in similar situations across the country avoid serious consequences and keep their promising futures on track. Call 888.535.3686 or contact us online today to discuss your case.