College visiting season is upon us again, as pre-collegiettes anxiously begin trying to determine their fit at the multitude of institutions on their college lists. But for one unlucky high school senior, the usual stressors of the college search were amplified by some attention-seeking students. Her name? Malia Obama.
The eldest daughter of the Obama family has been busy making her rounds at some of the most prestigious institutions in America as of late, and for good reason! With an envious HBO internship under her belt and stellar academic marks, Malia’s making us (and surely the President) proud as she finishes up high school strong.
But on her recent overnight stay at Brown University, Malia’s privacy was breached in entirely disrespectful ways. Apparently, the notoriously chill vibe of the Ivy League campus wasn’t enough to stop boastful party-goers from sharing personal details of Malia’s night on social media without her consent. After arriving at a college party, she was unknowingly photographed next to a beer pong table, and numerous tweets bragged about seeing her take shots. As expected, word got out to major news sources like Buzzfeed as if the event were some sort of controversy, fully ignoring the fact that Malia had the right to experience college like any other prospie without having to worry about criticism—College visits are stressful enough!
Finally, however, Brown students have stepped up to the plate to apologize for their immaturity. In an editorial entitled “Sorry, Malia Obama” The Brown Daily Herald acknowledged the fact that the social media posts prompted by her visit were far from hospitable.
“It is a shame that Malia was unable to visit Brown and enjoy herself at a party without several news headlines coming out about it the next day,” the article reads, noting that though students were rightfully excited about her visit, they didn’t consider the ripple effects of their online boasts. “Social media has become such an ingrained part of our daily routine that we sometimes forget the wider effects it can have. What we choose to post on social media is not just visible to our friends; it is public to the world if we do not protect our accounts.”
So let’s remember to use discretion, and especially when our actions can implicate others in their outcomes. Like any human being, Malia Obama deserved and continues to deserve normalcy and privacy. After all, as our girl Kim (or the President himself) would say, can she live?