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SVSD shuts off social media after student posts 'racist' video

After a racially charged video posted by a Seneca Valley School District student surfaced online earlier this week, the school district temporarily suspended some of its social media accounts in reaction to an overwhelming flood of comments that violated its social media policy.

“We began receiving hundreds of posts and comments involving misinformation and inappropriate language, mostly from people outside of the district,” said Linda Andreassi, the district's communications director, in an email Thursday. “Out of respect to our 16,000 followers...we made the decision to temporarily suspend (its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts).”

A post by a Twitter user shared Seneca Valley's phone number along with email addresses for the district superintendent and dean of students alongside the offending video where the student is saying a racial slur and issues a threat. The Twitter user claims the student was responding to George Floyd's murder.

The Twitter post and similar ones naming the school and city could have added to the influx of comments from non-residents.

This is an excerpt from a larger article that will appear in Sunday's Butler Eagle. Subscribe online or in print to learn more about the district's response to the video.

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