Messages, posts, updates, pictures, videos, and other data streams roll non-stop on social networks every second of every minute of every day. One of the largest contributors of this digital information is kids, specifically teens. There’s really no way you could keep up with the conversation if you wanted to. No way you could tie disparate events together to figure out if there is something that should draw more than a casual glance. The use of slang, acronyms, abbreviations, and symbology continue to evolve and keep those not directly engaged in the dark.
What if there was a way you could know what’s going on? Or someone could monitor the non-stop stream and pick out things that might require further analysis?
I came across this story on CNN and it piqued my interest.
I think this is generally a good idea. Some privacy folks may take issue with it, but if you think about it, these are public posts. They are not hacking into email accounts, reading private posts, or gaining access to their computers. These are public thoughts, expressions, and statements. It’s the same as stumbling upon the post yourself or overhearing a conversation at the mall.
I dig into my kids’ social media accounts to see what’s going on. I’m not ashamed of that and don’t feel bad for doing it. And I have no problem with them knowing it. They should know they are being monitored and need to act right. I look for hints of bullying, inappropriate behavior, or problems that might be popping up. As you start to crawl their accounts, and friends accounts, you can quickly find yourself down a particular conversation path. The problem is, there are hundreds if not thousands of these paths. I don’t have all day to do the digging. I’m a busy parent with a full time job that requires my attention.
So, I have no problem with a school hiring a third party to monitor these expansive (public) threads.
If there is a chance you can save a life or understand a call for help, I say do it.
With that said, the process should be explained to parents and the community to make sure people know what and how things are being done. Full disclosure is the best policy whenever you involve accessing and tracking people’s information, even if it is public.
What are your thoughts on a school system using a third party to monitor, track, and report on things your kids and their friends are saying online? Do you think the ends justify the means?
Jeff, first of all, it’s a great post and a really interesting topic. I’m a school administrator, and we are responsible for assigning consequences to students if they publish disreptuable comments about other students, even out of school. The problem is that we have no time to scower the internet so someone basically has to print off what was written about them so that we can act accordingly.
But, I’m not sure how I feel about a third party. If it’s done from school, it is absolutely not private, because anything done from school can be searched and scrutinized. I think someone has to monitor to a degree, especially considering the amount of alarming things teens can post on social media these days. I guess my only concern is where is the line drawn? Does this also extend to public universities if school districts are starting to do it? Also, how much does it cost the school system, because many are really hurting for money.
Thanks Mike. You bring up some valid points. With social media today, kids feel it’s ok to post any/everything they want. There is a bit of safety in it since they can just put it out there and close their browser. It seems many tragic events start with posts on social media so if someone can keep an eye out for it, then I think the benefits might outweigh any issues with crossing the line. BUT, I still do have a small level of concern with that line. There always seems to be a story of someone abusing power given to them, or information being used for purposes outside original scope. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
Oh, and thanks for all you do as a school administrator. You have a TOUGH job and most people don’t recognize that.