Posted By: Kayla

One thing I’ve noticed over the years is how powerful social media has become when a child goes missing. Within hours, thousands—even millions—of people can see a child’s face, share their picture, and spread awareness across the country. That happened with Javeayah Harris, and I found myself refreshing the news every day hoping for a positive update. Unfortunately, not every story has the ending people pray for.

Even though the latest news has been heartbreaking, I still believe social media plays an important role in keeping missing children in the public eye. Years ago, many local cases stayed local. Today, someone hundreds of miles away can recognize a child’s face simply because someone shared a post. At the same time, there is another side to social media that concerns me.

As soon as a case begins getting attention, rumors spread faster than facts. People start posting theories, screenshots, anonymous messages, and accusations before investigators have released official information. Sometimes those rumors turn out to be completely false, and innocent people become targets simply because someone online guessed what happened. That doesn’t help investigators, and it certainly doesn’t help the families who are already dealing with unimaginable pain.

I think we all have a responsibility to verify information before sharing it. If it comes directly from law enforcement or a reputable news organization, that’s one thing. But sharing rumors just because they sound believable can make an already difficult investigation even harder.

When I think about Javeayah Harris, I don’t want her story to become just another trending headline that disappears after a few weeks. I hope people continue remembering her and continue supporting efforts to protect children everywhere.