Opinion: Beyond the scroll — what social media is really doing to us
“Research shows ‘fake news’ spreads significantly faster than the truth. Why? Because the social media algorithm is structured to reward engagement.”
Erica May
Erica May is an emergency number professional (911) and works in public safety. She studied at the Naval Postgraduate Academy Center for Homeland Defense and Security and is a proud resident of South Memphis. Erica is a periodic contributor to The Daily Memphian.
There are 14 articles by Erica May :
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November 2025
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Guest Columnists -
Guest Columnists Opinion: What the federal task force proves about the council’s traffic-stop policy
“Instead of treating a horrific tragedy as an isolated incident and holding those specific officers accountable, the council put the entire MPD culture — and legitimate policing — on trial.”
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May 2025
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Guest Columnists Opinion: On STD rates, we need to start having ‘uncomfortable conversations’
“If middle school students are having unprotected sex and contracting sexually transmitted infections, do we really think they are going to log onto a website and order a test?”
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December 2024
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Opinion Opinion: A responsible imagining of the Memphis hip-hop museum has a sad soundtrack
Opinion: I am a millennial and grew up on this music. However, as a public-safety professional, I cannot reconcile my nostalgic feelings with the cries I hear from Memphians when they call 9-1-1 in distress. Because then the lyrics come to life.
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October 2024
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Guest Columnists Opinion: Memphis Police Department culture is on trial in Tyre Nichols case
“We may make our choices alone, but we share the consequences with others. The actions of these officers have impacted multiple families, a police department, a city and a profession.”
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August 2023
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Guest Columnists Opinion: We have to be able to spend money in peace
“We need leaders who will be ‘smart on crime and tough on crime.’ From the consumer, to the corporations and all the way to the entrepreneur – crime is tough on our economy. We don’t have soft criminals and we cannot have soft leaders.”
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October 2022
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Opinion Opinion: Violence celebrated in music connected to violence in streets
“I absolutely hate that we have a city filled with seemingly responsible and respected people that will not acknowledge the connection between what we celebrate and what we see in our news reports.”
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June 2022
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Guest Columnists Opinion: Debate over Trump security example of ‘low politics’
“The Secret Service coordinates protection detail procedures with law enforcement agencies. A few of our city council members were excited to intervene and put themselves in the middle of federal and local law enforcement’s customary procedures.”
Related story:
Letter to the Editor: Denying security to former President Trump is an effort ‘filled with hatred’
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November 2021
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Premium
Guest ColumnistsGuest column: Let’s fight crime, not each other
While we have a small segment of our population wreaking havoc across the city, the “stand-up” citizens argue with each other about what to do and who’s to blame.
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June 2021
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Premium
Guest ColumnistsOpinion: I am not an anti-vaxxer; I just don’t want the vaccine
Now more than ever, America is a country of choice. The efforts to persuade and coerce citizens into taking the vaccine just do not sit well with me.
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April 2021
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Guest Columnists Opinion: A primer on 911 – how to ‘help us help you’
In the past year I have taken over 1,900 calls to 911, and I’m convinced that a refresher course is in order for children and adults alike. Here are some tips to help you become an effective 911 caller.
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September 2020
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Opinion Opinion: What is the citizen’s role in ‘Reimagining Policing'?
“We have one of the best police forces in the country. As we reimagine police work, we have a responsibility as citizens to remember our part in creating a civil society.”
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July 2020
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Guest Column
Guest ColumnistsOpinion: MPD makes 98% of arrests ‘without incident.’ Why was Brandon Webber’s different?
Sometimes it seems our memory is as selective as our outrage. Black men are taken into custody every day without incident. Two young Black men accused of killing Memphis police officers – Tremaine Wilbourn and Justin Welch – were arrested without incident.
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June 2020
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GUEST COLUMN
Guest ColumnistsFrom premium to basic: So you want to defund the Police Department?
Let us not use the death of George Floyd as an opportunity to scapegoat and launch an unfair assault on an entire profession. I’ve spoken to police officers. They too are disturbed and hurt by that tragic event.
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