Today I found an article post on Oct. 3, 2013 in The Baltimore Sun newspaper website. The article talked about the partnership between Maryland schools and Facebook in reduction of cyber-bullying among the states students. Facebook has given Maryland schools a channel, called the Educator Escalation Channel. Though this channel school districts in Maryland are granted access to monitor their students Facebook accounts, and allow them to report any form of cyber-bullying to Facebook. Also, stated in the article Facebook has also agreed to educate Maryland school systems about cyber-bully and how it can be reduced.
Part of me believes that is awesome that Maryland school systems and Facebook become partners for the hopes to reduce cyber-bullying in among Maryland students. However, I believe this a complete breach in the students privacy and 1st amendment rights. Which we learned from class and from common knowledge that the first amendment gives United States citizens the right to free speech and to express there own opinion. Also, I believe that the personnel of each school district that are in charge of monitoring the students Facebook accounts through this channel should be educated on when free speech cross over to be cyber-bullying. My fear is that if they are not educated, I believe that the person who is in charge of monitoring would report any mean comment they find on Facebook and violate the student right to free speech. Which we learned in an article in lab, this violation of the first amendment could result in a law suit.
This brings up the issue of boundary of structure. One of the main issues is knowing who has ownership, knowing who has the right and responsibility to control information of the posts. Since, school districts have access to their students profiles and have the right to report any wrong doing to Facebook, my question is who is responsible for the post if it results in suicide? The student for posting it? Or the school district for not properly report it? Or.... is Facebook at fault? For example, someone from the school district could report the post to Facebook, but Facebook may not have removed the threatening post in a timely manner to prevent harm to the victim the post was directed at.
I believe that the Educator Escalation channel give to Maryland school systems from Facebook provides me with more questions than answers. I believe that it is going in the right direction to combat cyber- bullying. But I believe how this channel is ran and who is at fault if it does result in suicide due to cyber-bullying should be established.
Link to Website Article:
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2013-10-03/news/bs-md-facebook-school-partnership-20131003_1_cyber-bullying-dale-rauenzahn-facebook
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