The Company Using Social Media to Prevent School Shootings
*By Amanda Weston*
Risk management firm Firestorm wants to spot warning signs of tragedies before it's too late, and it's looking to social media for clues.
"Typically, people who perpetrate bad acts broadcast their intent ahead of time," Suzanne Loughlin, a co-founder of Firestorm, said Friday in an interview on Cheddar. "If we're looking and listening, we can pick up clues that might help us intervene long before the individual causes harm."
As part of its [formula](https://www.firestorm.com/home/firestorm-verticals/security-solutions/formula/) to prevent school violence, Firestorm helps institutions and businesses identify threats and vulnerabilities and then designs a strategy.
One way is through algorithms and tools that scan public social media posts for warning signs and keywords like the word "gun" or "glock."
The firm gave some example tweets that would have triggered an alarm, including, "This school is worthless. I wish it didn't exist."
In an actual Facebook post Firestorm shared with Cheddar, a user wrote, "All life I've been bullied by these same kids..well towmarow \[sic\] that all ends. Maryvale is gonna look ugly towmarow \[sic\]." The post concluded with a gun emoji.
While it's unclear what happened in that instance, in other cases Firestorm has detected a more pressing threat.
[Wired reported](https://www.wired.com/story/algorithms-monitor-student-social-media-posts) this week that the company's system flagged a student's post earlier this year that featured a picture of a gun in a backpack. When the principal approached the author of the post, he found that the student was carrying the weapon.
Even if flagged posts don't always identify a person who is planning immediate violence, Loughlin said the system is still valuable.
"Those people still need help," she said.
"Most school shooters, statistically, have been bullied. Bullying is a big problem. So wouldn't that be wonderful, that we solve that issue for a student, whether or not that kid ever is going to be the one who's on the path to ultimately bringing the gun to school?"
Loughlin pointed out that the social media watch is just one of Firestorm's nine strategy components. But, she added, the human element still plays a major role.
"You can't forgo the human interaction and the value that a teacher has, or a staff member, in recognizing what's going on in that kid's life," Loughlin said.
For full interview [click here] (https://cheddar.com/videos/firestorm-scans-for-warning-signs-of-violence).
A Senate bill unveiled on Wednesday looks to tackleonline safety for children by regulating Big Tech and social media platforms to deter users from content that can harm their mental health. Irene Ly, a policy counsel for the age-based ratings and review organization Common Sense Media, joined Cheddar News to break down the potential of the Kids Online Safety Act. "We can't be imposing such a big burden on parents to be doing it all on theirselves," Ly said. "I think you also have to keep in mind that parents often didn't grow up with social media, so they don't understand what it's like to be addicted to social media or really understand how they work."
While many still remain skeptical about the metaverse, big tech firms and even one big bank are ready to expand their virtual worlds. Facebook parent company has pivoted so hard it will now call its employees 'Metamates,' and even JPMorgan Chase has created its own digital lounge on one virtual platform. While the sector remains young, there seems to be significant investment opportunity, especially with companies like Nvidia. Adam Johnson, a portfolio strategist at Adviser Investments, joins Closing Bell to discuss which companies could win in this space, consumer appetite, and more.
Marc Blinder, Co-Founder and CEO of Aikon, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he discusses how his company is helping businesses use blockchain applications without needing to learn the intricacies of the new technology.
Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) have introduced a new bill to afford greater protection to minors on social media. The genesis of the Kids Online Safety Act came from a Facebook whistleblower case exposing the harm apps can have on the mental health of young girls.
Ride share competitors Uber and Lyft both posted their fourth quarter earnings days apart from each other. Both companies have been trying to get back on their feet after taking some pandemic-related hits, but the Omicron variant had other ideas as the year came to a close, with each company taking a hit in ridership in December. Lance Ippolito, head trader at The Future of Wealth explains how Uber and Lyft measured up this earnings period and why Uber may still have an edge over the competition.
