What Every Education Professional Should Know About Social Media Karen Haase Harding & Shultz (402) 434-3000 khaase@hslegalfirm.com H & S School Law @KarenHaase
This is not your Grandma’s Presentation
Social Networking Examples • Facebook • YouTube • Twitter • Tumblr
Social Media is Here to Stay Ed. Professionals are using social media • 85% of Americans use social media monthly • Twitter grew over 500% in the last year • More video is uploaded to YouTube in 60 days than big 3 networks created in 60 years
Facebook dominates social media • • • •
500 million users as of July, 2010 50% of active users log on daily Average user has 130 friends Largest group of users aged 35-54
Teacher Use Causes for Concern • Drug/Alcohol Use • Sexual Inappropriateness • Inappropriate Communication with Students • Inappropriate Communication about Students • Selling School Property
Nebraska Law NEB. REV. STAT. §§79-824, 79-827 Reasons for Termination and/or Cancellation: • Unprofessional Conduct • Immorality • Other conduct which interferes substantially with the continued performance of duties
Social Media and Politics
Social Media and Politics  Political Accountability and Disclosure Act  In the Matter of Michael Nolan, Case No. 07-03
Accessing at School Computer, Server, Internet Connection all belong to the district. Use is permissive Assume someone will read it eventually.
Student Use of Social Media
Facebook and Code of Conduct
A.Z. v. Doe (N.J.) Heroes and Cool Kids Program Anonymous Parent sends school pics from Facebook Student sues “John Doe”; serves subpoena Defendant: no defamation therefore no case Court: truth is an absolute defense
Sexting
Sexting? Sexting, v: (a combination of sex and texting) is the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photos electronically, primarily between cell phones.
Sexting? Material can be distributed via: • • • • •
Text messages Downloads onto laptops/computers E-mail Downloads onto i-pods/mp-3 players Social Networking Sites
Sexting?
Iowa v. Canal Boy and girl friends; not romantic • She asked him to send pic of penis • He complied • Both agreed not erotic Parents called the cops; boy charged Jury trial; boy convicted Appeal rejected by Iowa Supreme Court
Nebraska Law Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-813 et. seq. Makes sexting (images) a class IV felony for offenders under 19 Class IIIA felony for 19 and up Both punishable by: • Up to 5 years in prison and/or • $10,000 fine • Require sex offender registration
In re Katrina R. 15 year old texted nude pics to her BF Was adjudicated “a child who deports herself so as to injure or endanger seriously the morals or health of herself or others” • Placed in legal custody of HHS • 6 months’ probation • Required counseling • and community service.
Cyberbullying of Staff
J.S. v. Blue Mountain Sch. Dist. Middle School Student made fake MySpace profile for principal • Included photo from school website • Initially public; then limited • Students could only access off campus • Student suspended for 10 days; parents sued
Layshock v. Hermitage Sch. Dist High School Student made fake MySpace profile for principal • Included photo from school website • Other students created similar and more offensive profiles • Students only accessed off campus • Student suspended for 10 days; placed in alt. sch, banned from extracurriculars, no commencement
J.S. and Layshock Inconsistent Third Circuit granted en banc rehearing Oral Argument June 3, 2010 Decision issued June 13, 2011 The Bottom Line? • Schools lost both cases
J.S. and Layshock Key legal points • School can’t punish off-campus speech because it is vulgar, inappropriate or even criminal • School can only punish off-campus speech that is substantially disruptive
What About the Staff? “We recognize that vulgar and offensive speech such as that employed in this case – even made in just – could damage the careers of teachers and administrators and we conclude only that the punitive action taken by the school district violated the First Amendment free speech rights of JS.” • i.e. “We don’t care”
My Suggestions Make a professional page separate from your personal page Don’t “friend” students or parents on your personal page Don’t let yourself be depicted behaving unprofessionally Ask: will this affect my classroom?
Privacy Settings
Set your profile as “private” Only let “friends” see pics Require notification before tagging Turn off geo-tags Friend Facebook on Facebook
What Every Education Professional Should Know About Social Media Karen Haase Harding & Shultz (402) 434-3000 khaase@hslegalfirm.com H & S School Law @KarenHaase