Melania Trump on "Positive" Social Media Habits

From Redbook

Melania Trump said Monday she has been "heartened" to see children nationwide speaking out after the Florida school shooting and trying to effect change. She said children are the future and "they deserve a voice."

At a White House luncheon, the first lady offered thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by "such a senseless act."

Since a gunman killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, students from the school have been speaking out about gun violence. They have been joined by peers from around the country who have skipped class or marched in protest. Some even lay down on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House to symbolize the dead and urge President Donald Trump to limit access to firearms.

Mrs. Trump said, as a parent, "I cannot imagine the kind of grief a tragedy like that brings" but that she has learned as first lady that tragedy often reveals the "strength and resilience" of the human spirit.

"I have been heartened to see children across this country using their voices to speak out and try to create change. They are our future and they deserve a voice," the mom to Barron, 11, said during brief remarks at a luncheon in the White House Blue Room for spouses of the nation's governors, who were meeting in Washington.

She also called on parents to "take the lead and responsibility in helping our children manage the many issues they're facing today," according to a press pool report (via The Hill). "This means encouraging positive habits on social media and technology."

"I am asking you all to join me today and commit to promoting values such as encouragement, kindness, compassion and respect in our children," she told the crowd. "With those values as a solid foundation, our kids will be better equipped to deal with many of the evils in our world today, such as drug abuse and addiction and negative social media interactions."

On Friday, Lauren Hogg, a survivor of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting, took to Twitter to ask Trump to make sure her anti-bullying message is reaching those closest to her, too. This came after Donald Trump Jr. liked tweets promoting a conspiracy theory that Hogg's older brother David is a crisis actor.

The First Lady has yet to respond to Hogg's message.

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