Facebook groups face scrutiny as popularity increases

Over the course of these past few months, a game-changer has happened regarding local happenings and politics. Now, more than ever, residents are turning to what seems to be a growing number of area Facebook groups to do virtually anything - from venting about a politician to asking for plumber recommendations to discussing road construction. Most of the time, this has brought forward stronger community connections. However, as of late, it has also brought controversy and growing negativity.

Being a member of several of these groups, FT has witnessed firsthand how residents, some of whom not Franklin residents, have either created or spun conversations into grossly negative or demeaning behavior.

In one instance, a person shared a photo purportedly as someone stalking children at a Walmart store on the Neighborhood Watch group. It attracted much attention concerned parents and residents, originally believing the story as true. However, not even 24 hours passed when it was discovered not only was the story horribly false but the individual photographed was identified on other forums and receiving threats.

Locally, this occurred when a wife posted on the Area Community group extremely upset upon hearing that her husband was being accused of pedophilia because a neighbor witnessed him walking near a neighborhood park. It was quickly pointed out that her family lives in the neighborhood, the park serves as a PokeStop for the Pokemon Go app, and the accusations were not only blatantly false but hurtful. FT would also like to add - that would also be considered slanderous in a court of law.

In the two cases above, FT observed the Neighborhood Watch administrator, Jacob Anderson, promptly address the situation regarding the false Walmart perp. On the Area Community group, apologies by other neighbors was observed for the wife of the falsely accused husband and Franklin neighbor.

It has lately got to the point where the Franklin Police Department, after perhaps seeing all the controversies growing on these groups, made an official statement on these matters. On Facebook, they ask residents for "patience in learning about investigations, activities and arrests we are handling," noting that some cases can take some time and people shouldn't be rushing to judgment.

As a community, these situations should be served as a reminder to everyone that we as a whole should be more caring, respectful and understanding of situations. Additionally, residents should remember that we are all neighbors here in Franklin, and ask if some of the things being said behind a computer screen using a keyboard would be things you'd say or accuse someone to their face, or at an area event in front of other neighbors in public.