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Social Networking Sites

As high-schoolers today in a modern world, we all have access to social networking sites such as Myspace or Facebook. However, many of us don’t know what kind of impact the information on these sites can have on us. From these sites, people can find out our name, the place that we live as well as any other information we may put on. The general consensus on these sites is that they can be good things when used responsibly. While talking with Mr. Byrnes, he expressed his feelings that it is ironic to call them social networking sites as you are not actually in physical proximity to the people you are communicating with and that these websites are good sources of information unless they negatively target certain people. He also states that sometimes when putting things on their websites, students may lose sight of their own moral standards.

While the school makes no attempts to monitor the websites of students, they will take action if they are alerted of something that is thought of as inappropriate. If, in the course of the school’s investigation, there is something that the school deems to be inappropriate or illegal, they have a moral obligation to take action. The schools course of action of course depends on the situation, but usually results in a talk with the student or a call home to notify the parents of the student. While there is no direct consequence to the student in school, having a parent informed may be just as bad.

Since this is a relatively new things that is happening in schools, the laws concerning what should be done are still being written. There are, however “Education codes” which outline what schools should do in certain situations. If something directly harmful to another student or a member of the school faculty is found on a website, the school is required to take action. Depending on the severity of the threat, the punishments be a talk with the principal or guidance counselor or something much more severe.

Another issue that we as students have to address is what colleges and prospective employers see in us. In a discussion I had with Dr. Murray, he explained to me the guidance department’s perspective on social networking sites. While many colleges don’t include looking at these sites as part of their admissions process, a guidance counselor writing a college recommendation letter would have to imply that something had happened concerning a student if an incident had taken place.

Even though colleges don’t look on these sites, many job employers do. Background checks many times involve a look at a social networking site in order to look at the ethical character of the person in question. Things on your website that are inappropriate could mean that you won’t get hired.

With all of this said, these websites do have their upsides. They are good sources of information about friends and can help to bring people together. However, people must remember that these sites are not private and are open to anybody. As long as you are responsible and don’t overlook your own moral standards, these sites will continue to be a wonderful source of information and entertainment.

-Pete Esser