Social media can be a fun and enriching way to build your personal brand, keep in touch with friends, and share enlightening and helpful information.
It can also be a wretched hellhole of pure stupidity, endless misery, and unimaginable human horrors. Of course, South Florida have given us myriad examples of that.
So here now: the nine levels of South Florida social media hell.
Level 1: The Humble Brag That Bites You in the Ass
Ex-Gulliver Prep Headmaster Loses $80K Settlement Because Teen Daughter Bragged About It on Facebook
Dana Snay, the daughter of the former headmaster of exclusive Miami private school Gulliver Prep, took to Facebook to brag that her father had successfully settled a lawsuit against the school: "Mama and Papa Snay won the case against Gulliver. Gulliver is now officially paying for my vacation to Europe this summer. SUCK IT." Unfortunately, that settlement came with an order that the elder Snay could not talk about the settlement, and a court ultimately ruled that Gulliver would not have to pay the $80,000 because of the disclosure.
Level 2: The Heated Political Statement
Joaquin Serrapio, Miami Man Who Threatened to Kill Obama, Loves Ron Paul, Racism, and Journey Covers
Joaquin Serrapio, AKA Jay Valor, a lead singer in a local cover band, was apparently upset when Barack Obama paid a visit to the University of Miami campus in 2012. So he did the sensible thing and threatened -- via Facebook, Twitter, and text messages -- to kill the president. The Secret Service, of course, came down on his ass. He ended up having to pen an apology letter, but avoided jail because the Secret Service found no guns in his home.
Level 3: Posting About Drug Dealing and Creep Shots
FIU's Pi Kappa Alpha Frat Suspended Over Facebook Posts About Drug Dealing, Hazing, and Creep Shots
The brothers of FIU's Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity decided to expedite the drug trade by openly posting on Facebook information about selling various substances to one another. They also discussed hazing and posted nude photos of female students. The frat ended up getting suspended, but no charges were leveled against individual members.
Level 4: Posting Illegal Firearm Selfies
South Florida Man Arrested After Posting These Insane Instagram Pics
At the age of 19, Palm Beach County man Dupree Johnson was already a convicted felon. Despite that fact, he posted on Instagram tons of pictures of himself with guns. Police caught on, executed a search warrant, and found $250,000 worth of stolen jewelry, electronics, and firearms at this home.
Level 5: Threatening to Kill Police on Instagram
Sweetwater Man Arrested for Threatening to Kill Cops Over Instagram, Facebook
Daniel Jesus La Rosa's girlfriend left him for a Sweetwater police officer, so La Rosa did the sensible thing: He uploaded a photo on Instagram with a message promising to kill police officers. He was arrested for making threats against a public servant.
Level 6: The Miscalculated Revenge Porn
Rashad Hannibal Jackson got angry at an ex-girlfriend, who was "disrespecting" him, so he posted a sex video of themselves on Facebook. There are several problems with that idea, but the most criminal is the fact that the video was taken when the woman was 14 and Jackson was 17. He was soon arrested on child porn charges.
Level 7: Posting Your Beatings on YouTube
Real Housewives Son Could Face Charges for Nut-Punching Homeless Man on Miami Beach
Peter Rosello, the son of a cast member of The Real Housewives of Miami, went out one night, attacked a homeless man, and recorded the violence on video. The footage wound up on YouTube, and Rosello ended up turning himself in on assault charges.
Level 8: Posting About How Drunk You Are and Then Killing Someone
Real Life Example: Alleged Killer Kayla Mendoza Tweets "2 Drunk 2 Care" Before Causing Horrific Accident
One night, Kayla Mendoza drove her car the wrong way on the Sawgrass Expressway and caused an accident that killed two people. Only hours before the crash, she had taken to Twitter to tweet "2 Drunk 2 Care." She faces eight charges, including criminal DUI manslaughter.
Level 9: Killing Your Wife and Posting a Picture of Her Dead Body on Facebook
Derek Medina Kills His Wife in South Miami, Posts Pictures and Confession on Facebook
Yeah, that really happened.
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