Text About It is a website used by Westminster for helping students with problems in their personal lives. I used to believe that Text About It wasn’t very helpful because I thought in-person interactions had more of a lasting impact compared to virtual ones. However, my opinion has changed after taking a deep dive into the matter.

When you visit the site, you can type in an anonymous submission that a teacher or Grade Chair will see. They will give you a response for how you can deal with your problem. The site could be helpful for things like bullying, depression, suicidal thoughts, and abuse. People might use Text About It if they feel insecure or nervous about meeting with someone in person or if they might want to stay anonymous.

I used to believe that Text About It was something that nobody really cared about. I didn’t find it helpful because I thought an online conversation wouldn’t help much. I thought it would be better to open up in person rather than stressing about your problem. It’s unlikely that someone would be bullied as a result of talking to others face-to-face about issues with their mental health, parents, or friends. You could also just schedule the conversation for a time that’s more private. 

Another large issue would be the inconvenience of access. I wouldn’t come home thinking about using Text About It after being bullied at school. And even if I did, I’m not sure I’d know how to access it. 

Lastly, students take Text About It as a complete joke. People make comments in an attempt to mock the site in ways similar to, “Hey, I’m going to Text About It,” after someone gives a light insult to them.

I wanted to dig deeper to find out why Westminster uses Text About It, so I went to Middle School Counselor Tray Malloy, who says the anonymity of the site has both benefits and downsides. “It has both pros and cons. People having the ability to stay anonymous can be a double-edged sword,” he says. “There was a report that said that online confrontations were more efficient than in-person ones for whoever asking for advice. The problem is that it’s also the issue with the website. People will misbehave when they have the power of anonymity. It’s more so about the few people that need it than the general public.”

After consulting with Malloy, I think that Text About It has its ups and downs, but it needs a lot of improvement to be ideal for students. There isn’t enough awareness about the site. I think the school could put it in the morning announcements every week or so and make it more accessible by putting it on Schoology in the Grade Chair section. I think the concept is good, but the execution just falls short.