Teachers and Social Networking Sites: Think before you post

Russo, CJ; Squelch, J; Varnham, S

Teachers and Social Networking Sites: Think before you post

Russo, CJ Squelch, J Varnham, S

Permalink

Publisher:: UTS ePress
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Public Space: The Journal of Law and Social Justice, 2010, 5 (1), pp. 1 - 15
Issue Date:: 2010-01

Open Access

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Open Access

This item is open access.

Adobe PDF

Download full textAdobe PDF (252.9 kB)

View statistics

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Russo, CJ	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Squelch, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Varnham, S https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7966-6096	en_US
dc.date.issued	2010-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Public Space: The Journal of Law and Social Justice, 2010, 5 (1), pp. 1 - 15	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1835-0550	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/15987
dc.description.abstract	Social networking sites are highly popular and have profoundly changed the way people, including educators, communicate and interact. For many teachers the use of Facebook and MySpace is seen as a valuable educational tool and an integral part of their private social interaction. However, the exponential growth in the use of social networking sites by students and teachers alike has presented new legal, ethical and professional challenges for teachers and school administrators. Teachers might argue that their social networking sites are personal websites but they are ultimately very public spaces that leave an electronic trail that can have serious, albeit unintended, consequences for teachers who breach professional codes of conduct and education laws. Teachers face the risk of censured speech, professional misconduct and possible dismissal for posting inappropriate information including comments and pictures on these websites. The purpose of this article is to examine the legal and professional risks for teachers using social networking sites and it offers suggestions that school administrators might incorporate in their policies with regard to teachers use of social networking sites. The first part of the article reviews relevant US cases and the second part focuses on the following legal issues free speech, privacy and security of information, professional conduct, and the implications for teachers and school administrators in the US, Australia and New Zealand. Included in the second part are some practical recommendations for teachers and their lawyers as they develop policies addressing the use of social networking websites in the educational workplace.	en_US
dc.publisher	UTS ePress	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Public Space: The Journal of Law and Social Justice	en_US
dc.title	Teachers and Social Networking Sites: Think before you post	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	1	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	5	en_US
utslib.for	1801 Law	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Law
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - LRC - Law Research Centre
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.consider-herdc	true	en_US
pubs.issue	1	en_US
pubs.volume	5	en_US

Abstract:

Social networking sites are highly popular and have profoundly changed the way people, including educators, communicate and interact. For many teachers the use of Facebook and MySpace is seen as a valuable educational tool and an integral part of their private social interaction. However, the exponential growth in the use of social networking sites by students and teachers alike has presented new legal, ethical and professional challenges for teachers and school administrators. Teachers might argue that their social networking sites are personal websites but they are ultimately very public spaces that leave an electronic trail that can have serious, albeit unintended, consequences for teachers who breach professional codes of conduct and education laws. Teachers face the risk of censured speech, professional misconduct and possible dismissal for posting inappropriate information including comments and pictures on these websites. The purpose of this article is to examine the legal and professional risks for teachers using social networking sites and it offers suggestions that school administrators might incorporate in their policies with regard to teachers use of social networking sites. The first part of the article reviews relevant US cases and the second part focuses on the following legal issues free speech, privacy and security of information, professional conduct, and the implications for teachers and school administrators in the US, Australia and New Zealand. Included in the second part are some practical recommendations for teachers and their lawyers as they develop policies addressing the use of social networking websites in the educational workplace.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/15987