Social Media Issues by Elisa Long

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Bishop Lynch High School Social Media Policy

Blhs social media policy. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.bishoplynch.org/netcommunity /page.aspx?pid=1771 http://www.bishoplynch.org/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=1771

Summary
The BLHS Media Policy is divided into three sections. In the Comments and Participation section, BHLS encourages the use of social media sites while also defining appropriate social media behaviors. BHLS discourages users from using obscene, offensive, or inflammatory language in postings. BHLS reminds users that information posted to the social media sites is public to everyone and warns against posting information which may be considered private. Further BLHS states their legal rights to edit or remove comments, while also blocking users who habitually violate their social media policy. liabilities resulting from postings on social media sites. In the Faculty Use section, BLHS encourages faculty to participate in social media sites, but sets explicit boundaries for faculty to follow. For example, faculty may not have current students in their friends or followers list. The ramifications and results of improper faculty use of social media sites are explained. Lastly, BHLS explains that each Social Media site with BHLS affiliation must be approved by the Web Master or Director of Communications and must have consistent logos and graphics associated with BHLS. In the Student Use section, BLHS encourages student use of Social Media sites, but reminds students that their words/behavior are a reflection of BHLS and as such are subject to the BLHS Student Code of Conduct. Also additional rules which are defined in this policy include a rule whereby students are not allowed to create videos of BLHS community members for publication on social media sites. BHLS also removes itself from any legal

Strengths
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The BHLS policy is written very well and is easy to understand. The division of policy information into three categories is also helpful for users to find pertinent information.

BHLS addresses the large category of posting obscene, inflammatory, or objectionable comments. This language covers the cyber-bullying type of comments as well as those comments that are simply objectionable by school officials.

BHLS also reserves the right to amend this Policy at any time. This clause allows for changes to be made to the policy as laws are changed or technology advances so that new issues need to be addressed by the policy.

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The statement By posting a comment or material of any kind on a BLHS-sponsored site, the user hereby agrees to the Policy set forth above. allows BLHS to hold anyone who comments on their social media sites subject to the rules set forth in this policy.

Weaknesses
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Some portions of the policy are difficult to understand. For example User agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Bishop Lynch High School, its affiliates, directors, employees, successors and assigns against any damages, losses, liabilities, judgments, causes of action, costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees and costs) arising out of any claim by a third party relating to any material user has posted on BLHS-sponsored sites is difficult for an average person to understand.

Hudson High School Social Networking Policy

Hudson high school learning technologies. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.hudsonhs.com /social-networking-policy http://www.hudsonhs.com/social-networking-policy

Summary
The social media policy at Hudson High School is actually a FaceBook policy. It briefly reminds parents to be watchful and aware of their childs social media activity. HHS explains in this policy that social media outlets like FaceBook are not private and that children are posting very personal information that should be monitored. The policy explains the three FaceBook rules which students at HHS are required to abide by. Any student found to be using FaceBook during the school day will be suspended. Student postings which include slurs based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation will be considered discrimination and will result in Principals suspension. Any physical altercations that occur at HHS due to a students posting will result in Principals suspension.

Strengths
1. This policy is an attempt at school adoption of a social media policy. 2. HHS defines some inappropriate social media behaviors and their consequences.

Weaknesses

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1. There are many Social Media outlets other than Facebook that are available and used by students that should be addressed. A blanket statement about all social media content might be more appropriate. 2. The only postings which are deemed inappropriate are based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. Cyberbullying may or may not be based on any of those items. Also, there are many other social media behaviors which are inappropriate, and since they are not defined in this policy or this policy in no way refers to the student code of conduct, it might be difficult to issue a punishment to this type of behavior which is one of the most common social media problems today. 3. HHS comments on hurtful, disrespectful, and vulgar comments that are made on Facebook by students, but does not address this issue in its policy. 4. There is no defined social media behavior for HHS faculty.

Oxford High School Social Networking Policy

Oxford high school social networking policy. (2011). Retrieved from http://osd.high.schoolfusion.us/modules/cms /pages.phtml?pageid=193222&sessionid=

http://osd.high.schoolfusion.us/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/473994/File/Mandatory%20Tr aining%20Info/Social%20Networking%20Policy.pdf?sessionid=30c00eea06374400c636e27ad11c b428

Summary
The Oxford High School social media policy covers faculty misbehavior via electronic methods including use of social media methods. For example, OHS discourages improper fraternization among teachers and students via any electronic method, including FaceBook, email, telephone calls, or texts.

Strengths
1. This policy is an attempt at school adoption of a social media policy. 2. OHS defines some inappropriate faculty social media behaviors and their consequences.

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Weaknesses
1. This policy does not cover inappropriate social media behavior by students. Although these misbehaviors may be included in the OHS student code of conduct, these behaviors should definitely be included in the OHS school Social Networking Policy. 2. Some of the rules listed are quite restrictive for coaches and teachers when using ecommunications with students. So much so, the rules might actually discourage coaches and teachers from utilizing technology and social media communication methods. 3. Inclusion of other types of rules in this policy which are not defined as social networking activities like phone call or texts makes this policy confusing and unfocused on social media.

Pickens High School Social Networking Policy

Social Networking in the 21st Century
As society and education emerge into a new technology driven era, social media sites have become an integral part of facilitating communication. When social media sites are used properly, people are able to benefit from better and more information about many topics. At Pickens High School, we are dedicated to prepare students to successfully live, work, and participate in a technology driven society. We endeavor to encourage and educate students to learn and properly use 21st Century technological tools to benefit themselves and the society.

PHS and the Pickens County Board of Education have developed this social media policy to guide students, faculty, and users of PHS sponsored sites in their behavior and communications. Our high expectation of student and faculty behavior both on campus and off campus now extends to the electronic world of the Internet.

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Student Use of Social Media

Pickens High School encourages the proper use and participation in social network sites by students. In posting comments, personal or academic, students agree NOT to:
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Post comments that PHS determines to be threatening, harassing, illegal, obscene, defamatory, slanderous, or hostile towards any student, employee, individual, or entity.

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Post comments that degrade the faculty or Pickens County school system. Post confidential or personal information such as phone numbers, email addresses or other information of students, faculty, or any other person other than yourself. If you choose to post your own contact information for any reason, please be aware that the information will be available to the public and is, therefore, subject to misuse.

Post material that infringes on the rights of PHS or any individual or entity, including privacy, intellectual property or publication rights.

Post material that promotes or advertises a commercial product or solicits business or membership or financial or other support in any business, group or organization. Exceptions to this rules must be approved by PHS Administration and the Pickens County Board of Education.

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Post any type of information that is not pertinent or harmful to the site. Allow any other individual or entity to use your identification for posting or viewing comments.

Post comments under multiple names or using another persons name.

PHS and the Pickens County Board of Education reserves the right remove any post from any site which is deemed inappropriate. PHS may also ban future posts from people who repeatedly violate this Policy.

Faculty Use of Social Media

Pickens High School encourages the proper use and participation in social network sites by faculty and PHS employees. Employees should exercise care in setting appropriate boundaries between their personal and public online behavior, understanding that what is private in the digital world often has the possibility of becoming public, even without their knowledge or consent. The School strongly encourages all employees to carefully review

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the privacy settings on any social media and networking sites they use and exercise care and good judgment when posting content and information on such sites. PHS employees should adhere to the following guidelines, which are consistent with the Schools workplace standards on harassment, student relationships, conduct, professional communication, and confidentiality:
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An employee should not make statements that would violate any of the Schools policies, including its policies concerning discrimination or harassment;

The employee must uphold the Schools value of respect for the individual and avoid making defamatory statements about the School, its employees, its students, or their families;

An employee may not disclose any confidential information of the School or confidential information obtained during the course of his/her employment, about any individuals or organizations, including students and/or their families.

If the School believes that an employees activity on a social networking site, blog, or personal website may violate the Schools policies, the School may request that the employee cease such activity. Depending on the severity of the incident, the employee may be subject to disciplinary action. In addition to the rules stated above, PHS expects students to also adhere to the following:
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To protect the privacy of students and faculty, students may not, under any circumstances, create digital video recordings of PHS community members either on campus or at off-campus PHS events for online publication or distribution.

Students may not use social media sites to publish disparaging or harassing remarks about PHS community members, athletic or academic contest rivals, etc.

Students who choose to post editorial content to websites or other forms of online media must ensure that their submission does not reflect poorly upon the school.

PHS reserves the right to modify or make additions to the policy stated above at any time as a result of new laws or new situations that must be addressed. Failure to abide by this Policy, as with other policies at PHS, may result in disciplinary action as described in the Student Handbook, or as determined by the Pickens County Board of Education.

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