Ronn TorossianThe World Trade Center Memorial exists to honor those fallen in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Visitors should find remembrance and quiet reflection there, and for the thousands of individuals who count family members and loved ones among those fallen, the site holds profound grief.

With this in mind, the growing trend of tourists who visit the memorial wielding smartphones and selfie-sticks in feverish search of their next social media update is disturbing -- to say the least.

It may come as a shock to those whose lives were drastically changed by the events of 9/11. But for all too many, the memorial appears to have become little more than a photo opportunity on their NYC vacation. Recent years have seen a rise in carefree and undignified behavior at the site, including taking smiling photos in a seeming grab for more “likes” and retweets on one’s social media page.

While emerging social norms condone this digital revelry in most public spaces, it is important to remember the World Trade Center Memorial is not simply another public space. It exists as a monument to a tragedy deeply impacted people the world over. Enshrining its place in American history and serving as a place of mourning for families and friends of those who perished on September 11th. It shouldn’t need to be said that treating one’s time there as fodder for a Facebook update or cute text to a friend is hardly respectful behavior.

While those who strike a playful pose in the midst of the site surely mean no harm, such individuals would be wise to remember a memorial is not a tourist hotspot. Treating one’s visit to the World Trade Center with the same playfulness that one might display in Times Square reveals a lack of understanding about why it exists in the first place -- or a lack of regard. This is tantamount to demonstrating improper social etiquette at a funeral or wake.

Those who spend time at the World Trade Center Memorial, should take a moment to consider reasons for visiting in the first place. While the stories of survivors, volunteers, and the unbreakable American spirit can (and should) uplift visitors, it is not a lighthearted space. A visit there deserves the same measure of solemnity you would afford any show of remembrance for the dead. Please act accordingly, and save the selfie-snapping for Central Park.

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5WPR CEO Ronn Torossian is a life-long New Yorker.