Responsible Use of Social Media

Now a days it almost seems like everyone has some type of social media page. Whether it be Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. most people use some type of social networking to stay connected, communicate, and share photos with friends, family, and colleagues. Although social networking can be a great tool for the classroom, it can also be a distraction and affect the professional image of teachers.

Although a teacher may think he or she has all their photos on private settings, there are many "loop holes" that make it possible for the public to still have access to your site. There have been many controversies over whether or not school systems should have the power to punish teachers based on their social networking site. Many teachers argue that their social networking pages are their own personal pages and should not be a reflection of themselves as a professional. This may be true, but teachers are considered to be role models for their students. Because of this, teachers cannot afford to have any questionable posts.

It is also important for teachers to make sure they keep their social network completely separate from their job. Many Teachers have lost their jobs due to careless posts about their students or coworkers. It is important to make sure the privacy of the student is protected. As long as teachers pay close attention to what they are posting, social media can remain harmless. Generally if there is any question of whether something is appropriate or not, it most likely should not be posted. There have been many teachers that have lost careers over pointless posts.

References

CNN. (2010 October, 19).CNN: Teacher fired for Flirting on Facebook. [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAoxpGBEx5s

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. (2013). Fact Sheet 29: Privacy in Education. Retrieved From https://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs29-education.htm

Social Networking Statistics. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.statisticbrain.com/social-networking-statistics/