I don't think they should be used,' says Molly Rubenstein of Swisshelm Park. It's just too easy to be misunderstood, especially with social media. 'Let's talk about the younger generation,' says Bryan, 'and it's used in a hurtful way and that child might now have the wherewithal to be able to withstand that bullying.'īottom line for anyone using that GIF on Snapchat or Instagram, says Bryan, 'Dignity and respect are two really important words, and you don't have to agree with things, but you just need to treat people as you would like to be treated yourself.'īut social media is everywhere - and often crosses the line. While these words may not be offensive to some, they can be really hurtful to others, especially to the young who use them against other adolescents to ridicule, to out, and to offend each other. 'I think if a person is comfortable using that word and that's how they identify, then they should be able to use that.'
