Social Services Official Warns Against Online Public Discipline of Children

Published June 21, 2025, 2:12 PM

Director of the Family and Social Services Division, Mrs. Feona Charles-Richards

A senior official from the Family and Social Services Division is sounding the alarm over a growing trend of parents disciplining their children and posting videos online, a practice she warns could cause lasting emotional and psychological harm.

Director Feona Richards said while some parents may believe public shaming can correct bad behavior, the damage it inflicts on a child’s self-esteem can be severe.

Richards explains that even though the behavior may be corrected in the short term, this type of emotional harm can lead to much deeper psychological issues in the long run.

Richards further cautioned that posting such videos on social media not only deepens the emotional impact but risks normalizing harmful parenting practices, often perpetuating a cycle where children subjected to public humiliation may adopt similar methods when they become parents themselves.

She also highlighted the long-term risks, including depression and suicidal ideation, for children who internalize these experiences and develop a negative self-image.

Richards is urging parents to abandon public discipline in favor of private, supportive approaches that center on the child’s emotional wellbeing. We need to prioritize methods that correct behavior while also protecting the dignity and mental health of our children.

Richards is urging parents to move away from public displays of discipline and instead adopt private, nurturing strategies that safeguard a child’s emotional wellbeing, emphasizing the importance of correcting behavior without compromising dignity or mental health.

This story was first published by Antigua News on June 21, 2025 at 2:12 PM (Antigua time, UTC−4): antigua.news/2025/06/21/social-services-official-warns-against-online-public-discipline-of-children. © 2025 Antigua News. Republication without permission is not allowed.

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Comments (12)

Shelly June 21, 2025, 2:32 PM

which one you rather the public discipline to set them on the right path or a public shootout with police? Or perhaps she would prefer the public shaming when they’re caught on camera stealing something . Better yet the public display of them behaving in a awful manner on social media is much more desirable I guess.
Leave the parents alone! Let them discipline their children once they ain’t killing them because is you same one Miss that is going to have to deal with them when the parents can’t do so any more.
Reply
- Antigua Surf June 22, 2025, 6:01 AM
  
  Never thought someone could be so retarded! Humiliating your child on social media leads to so much! Being bullied, facing depression and the list can actually go on! You should beat your child and post that on media for the world to see. That’s a form of abuse and that will grow hate
  Reply
- Shocking! June 22, 2025, 11:33 AM
  
  Sounds like someone who was abused
  Reply
Informed citizen June 21, 2025, 2:35 PM

Was about time that someone spoke up against this. We are normalizing the wrong forms of discipline and highlighting it as “I did this because I love and care for you as a parent”. The internet has many important uses but aside from those there are the harm it causes psychologically.
Reply
Informed citizen June 21, 2025, 2:41 PM

It’s true that parents are dedicated to setting their children on the right path, and their disciplinary actions often come from a place of deep concern. However, when discipline becomes public, especially online, it often draws the attention of those whose mandate includes safeguarding children’s rights and ensuring practices are in line with broader community standards for child protection and development. It’s a challenging balance for all involved
Reply
Tamisha June 21, 2025, 3:34 PM

I think that as long as disciplining does not come from malice then we shld mind our business. Dilenquency is on the rise and so shld disciplining.
Reply
Teacher for Life June 21, 2025, 4:03 PM

I agree whole heartedly with this article’s points. Discipline should be conducted without malice and shame because public shaming causes long term psychological and emotional harm so we must be mindful of this. Our goal should be to eliminate bad behavior but still empower our children.
Reply
- Hiedi June 21, 2025, 8:32 PM
  
  Oh well. It is about time someone came out and talk about this nonesence I see parents doing
  Reply
Apex Jones June 21, 2025, 4:18 PM

Sometimes you need to embarrass their ass in public
Reply
Karen June 22, 2025, 6:04 AM

I say embarrass them on the media! Because at the end of the date, when they do wrong, the parents are the first to blame! “Oh, he or she have the child a do as demplease, not fummi pickney” and there are times these children get the most blows behind closed dòors! There are times these children don’t even know how to walk when they are with their parents. Embarrass them in public so they won’t embarrass you behind your back! They will remember that mommy had the nation see ne getting vlows
Reply
- Do Something About It June 22, 2025, 11:31 AM
  
  Mrs. Feona Charles-Richards, what does the law say about such dehumanizing of children or anyone. Such behaviour should be illegal and anyone who does it should be officially warned and charged if it is repeated. Don’t just talk Madam Director, do something tangible. Save these children from destruction.
  Reply
Do Something About It June 22, 2025, 11:30 AM

Mrs. Feona Charles-Richards, what does the law say about such dehumanizing of children or anyone. Such behaviour should be illegal and anyone who does it should be officially warned and charged if it is repeated. Don’t just talk Madam Director, do something tangible. Save these children from destruction.
Reply

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Social Services Official Warns Against Online Public Discipline of Children

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