Social Media and School DistrictS

SOCIAL MEDIAAND

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

By Jill Coyle

ISD 196

Facebook 500 million active users

Twitter 165 million active users

ChinaIndiaFacebookUnited State of America

50% of Facebook’s active users log in every day

The average Facebook user has 130 FB friends

FB Blocking in Schools – ISD 196’s random survey

16 metro districts block student use

1 metro district allows student use

11 metro districts block staff use

6 metro districts allow staff use

Students Staff

150 million Facebook users access Facebook on their mobile device

Mobile users are twice as active as non-mobile users

But….

It is becoming common – perhaps expected – for businesses and public organizations to have a facebook site.

When establishing an official site consider: Comment moderation Records retention Site administration and quality Consistency within the district

When establishing an official policy consider: Involving stakeholders across the

district Reviewing the policies of similar

organizations Cross-referencing acceptable use,

communications or advertising policies

Policy content may include:

Differing guidelines for official sites, classroom use and private use

Guidance on appropriate and inappropriate use

Cautions regarding private data Limits on use of school logos or

mascots Cautions regarding maltreatment

reporting and harassment

Conduct Training

Electronic training In-person trainingBuilding specific training

So….what problems can all this social networking create for the school district employer?

Anecdotes?

Staff “friending” studentsStaff “friending” parents

BOUNDARY ISSUES on FB

Disclosure of student information Disclosure of personnel information

Data Privacy Violations on FB

Maltreatment reporting obligations Responding to students at risk MSHSL obligations triggered by

student postings

Revelations by Vulnerable Students on FB

Staff Posting of Indiscreet or Reputation-Harming Content

Text or pictures revealing illegal conduct Text or pictures revealing conduct of a

sexual nature Text or pictures revealing inebriation Text or pictures revealing controversial

opinions in the community Text or pictures complaining about

administration, coworkers or students Text or pictures generally depicting poor

judgment or an intemperate attitude

Harassment on FB

District Harassment Policy

Harassment of coworkers on FB Harassment of students on FB

Nexus to School Search Concerns Privacy Rights Free Speech Rights Discrimination Issues

Disciplinary Concerns

Open Meeting Law Concerns

A quorum of the school board actively participating on a social media site may raise issues under Minnesota’s Open Meeting Law

Policy/TrainingBlocking (?)“Official” PagesProfessional Pages

Solutions

DISCUSSION