Ben Tracy is halfway through his quest to run 120 marathons in 120 days while raising awareness about the dangers of social media. That places him in central Kansas for his cross-country trek. Parents and caregivers are invited to hear his presentation about keeping kids safe online at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, at the Prince of Peace Parish Center, 4100 Broadway Ave. Holy Family School is hosting this free program.
Beyond sharing his own story, Tracy addresses critical issues such as cyber-bullying, the dangers of online predators, inappropriate photos, the relationship between social media and mental health, and the alarming risks associated with fentanyl-laced drugs sold on social media. He also emphasizes the importance of fostering a positive school culture and encourages students to make thoughtful, informed decisions about their online presence.
Holy Family School Principal Debbie Hagans said Tracy’s visit was scheduled well ahead of recent events where school threats were reported across the state, often through social media. He started his 3,100-mile journey in August and was scheduled to be at the Dodge City Diocese on Wednesday. On Monday he will come to Holy Family School to talk to its students in grades 4-6, who will be joined by students in grades 4-8 from St. Joseph Catholic School in Ellinwood.
According to the original schedule posted on his website, Tracy will also be in Macksville and Stafford in the coming days.
“Anybody that is a parent or a grandparent needs to hear what he has to say,” Hagans said. All schools deal with the aspects of social media, where kids say things they wouldn’t say face to face, she continued. “These problems won’t go away as long as kids have cellphones.”
Posts have consequences
In 2017, Tracy landed a job as a personal assistant to Illinois Gov. Brune Rauner. He was fired on his first day when inappropriate social media posts he made as a teenager came to light. Politico reported he had “a history of writing racially-charged, homophobic and sexually explicit tweets.”
Tracy then founded Safe Social Network, where he wrote:
“I had done pretty much everything right up to that point – double-majored, college athlete, great resume – but none of that mattered in that moment. My reputation was ruined.
“But it was my fault. I felt a tremendous amount of embarrassment, shame and guilt. I felt like I let my family, friends and myself down. I wondered if I would ever get a job again.
“Then one day I made the decision to own it, apologize, never do it again, be better and encourage others to do the same. I saw others making the same mistakes I made and decided to do something about it.”
Since 2018, according to website tracytrek.com, Tracy has traveled across the United States, engaging with hundreds of thousands of students, parents, and educators through his talks on online safety and responsible social media use.
