Responsible use of social networking everyone’s job
To the editor:
Recently a student entered my office in tears carrying multiple pages of photos and comments gleaned from a Facebook page. The Facebook page, set up by an anonymous user, contained hundreds of images and comments purporting “outing” students for their sexual orientation, promiscuity, drug addiction, STD exposure, pregnancy, possible abortion(s), and affairs with teachers. This particular page, at last count had 1024 members. This problem is not isolated to Cape Coral. Across the United States gossip pages, hotlists, and rating pages, primarily on Facebook, are becoming one of the biggest issues that school administrators face.
In 1969 the Supreme Court ruled in “Tinker v. Des Moines” that schools have the right and responsibility to limit the free speech of students if the content of their speech “substantially interfered with the requirements of appropriate discipline in the operation of the school.” Whether that speech occurs during school hours or any other time, if it substantially disrupts a student’s ability to learn it is something the school must act upon.
In Long Island Alexis Pilkington took her own life following vicious taunts on social networking sites. In Lake Dallas Texas multiple suicides and attempts at the Lake Dallas Middle School and High School have been attributed to Facebook comments. At the Monroe Woodbury High School in New York, Kameron Jacobsen, age 14, took his own life after being subjected to relentless bullying regarding his sexual orientation. Tyler Clementi, “outed” for being gay on a social networking site, left his final, chilling message on Facebook; “Jumping off the gw bridge sorry.” before plunging to his death. The stories are endless and the numbers will continue to grow unless action is taken. Kids and many adults do not understand that the “real” world and the “virtual” world are one and the same. Students often post statements directed towards others that they would never say directly to that person with no real understanding of the ramifications of their actions. This needs to change.
Parents, take a stand. As long as a child is living in your house there should be no “right to privacy” as it pertains to the Internet. The chances are great that you purchased the computer, phone, or tablet that your teen is using for social networking purposes and you have every right to monitor its use. It is not only a right it is a responsibility. If a student causes harm to another student through the use of technology you should be held liable.
Students, knock off the garbage. You know that the nonsense you are posting is hurtful. Stop being vindictive and mean to one another.
Schools, educate your students and parents about the dangers of cyber-bullying. Write policies with aggressive consequences for students participating in this negative behavior.
Facebook, create a faster and simpler system to review and delete damaging posts and pages. As a 100 billion dollar company you have a responsibility to help protect our children.
Chris Terrill, Principal
Oasis High School
Cape Coral