Social media should not determine who a person is in the workplace

Truth or Just Mistakes

After recent viral posts, students debate if an employee's future should be determined by their past posts.

"I don't think that what you put online should affect your employment because you can be one person around your friends and a whole different person in your work place." -sophomore Olivia Shively

"Social Media is a way to express yourself, but sometimes can be misinterpreted and manipulated for the better, or for the worst." - junior Maya Bair

CON

BY ERIKA SESLER WEB VIDEO CONTENT EDITOR

Social media has become a huge influencer in everything people do. If something happens, they want to put it on their Snapchat story. If someone goes somewhere or is hanging out with friends, they want to post it on Instagram or Facebook. Sometimes when a person posts you don’t really think about how someone could take it the wrong way, or how it could impact you later. Yet, companies feel that when someone posts something they think is wrong, they should take the most extreme route of consequence: firing them. It is excessive to fire people for things that they post on their social media profiles.

Social media platforms are private companies, and can censor what people post on their websites as they see fit, according to Executive Director of the First Amendment Center Lana Nott. Most social media websites like Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram have strict rules on what will not be tolerated. For example, Snapchat says in its terms of use “Do not bother or make other people feel bad on purpose,” and there are no exceptions or limitations to this policy. If the website does not deem a post inappropriate, then the company shouldn’t make such big deal out of it. Some people just don’t understand that the statement or picture they shared was inappropriate, so firing them isn’t the correct way to handle it.

A woman, identified only as Naomi H., lost her NASA internship in August because she tweeted something with profanity. People swear all the time in person, but as soon as it’s put on the Internet, people want to criticize it. The woman was talking directly to a fellow intern, but he wrote in a blog post later that he wasn’t offended by it and knew that she was joking. In situations like this, the public or others who aren’t directly affected love to give their input even though they have nothing to do with it. The woman’s superiors read her colleague’s blog post, and she ended up getting her internship back. In this day and age, people have to be careful on social media in consideration of their future. Colleges, possible jobs, sororities and fraternities carefully examine our social media. Before people had the ability to look others up on the Internet, the only resources they had were the people themselves. Now, if they find something they didn’t like on a person’s social media, they can judge and turn a probable candidate down just because they have new resources. It’s unfair and doesn’t allow some people the same opportunities they deserved because the Internet and social media allow people to look deeper into our lives. Most adults who have matured know that just because you did one bad thing on the Internet doesn’t mean you are like that all the time.

If someone posts something on social media that doesn’t apply to their job or affect anyone that they work with or work for, then they should be allowed to say what they want. People are allowed to say whatever they want until the social media platform decides it is inappropriate and goes against their terms of use.

If the post is not censored, then a company does not have the right to fire the person who posted it. If there is no correlation to the company in any way in the post, they most definitely do not have the right to fire them. Sometimes people say things in person and they aren’t fired, so they should not be fired over a tweet or a post that says the same thing they could have said out loud and wouldn’t have been punished for.

Of course it is not always appropriate to post certain things, but the companies should discuss their reasoning about wanting the post deleted with the person who put it out there on their social media. Then it allows them to have a civil conversation about it, and they may even convince the person that they should take the post down which solves the whole issue to begin with.

The person who posted it might even learn why the post was inappropriate, which would prevent them from posting other bad posts in the future.

In the instance of Lindsey Stone, who posted a picture of herself in front of an Arlington National Cemetery sign pretending to scream, if she had talked to someone about why it was offensive or if her boss had had a conversation about how he believed it would not benefit her, I believe she would have taken it down.

If NASA had talked to the woman about why her tweet was inappropriate or asked her to take out the other NASA intern in the tweet, she could have kept the internship for the whole time instead of losing it and then getting it back because of a misunderstanding.

All of these could have been solved with an informative conversation instead of firing them, and the context of the post could have been explained. If Stone was able to explain the context of her photo, she may not have been fired. There is always more to the story, and social media takes that away. With having conversations, people become more informed and allow everyone to be on the same page.

Late Night Nightmares

Students suffer from sleep deprivation of them are not getting nine hours of sleep.” The harmful symptoms of sleep deprivation affect a student’s mental, due to overbooked schedules and emotional and physical health. Sleep deprivation often leads to a multitude technology. of health problems ranging from weight gain to fatigue and memory loss. Students who don’t get the recommended amount of sleep typically have a stretches and rubs her eyes, she gets ready for the school day. She grabs her harder time focusing in school, leading to decreased performance according BY WEB MANAGING EDITOR ANA PENDERGAST to Perry. Sleep deprivation can also lead to larger medical problems. High AND REPORTER GRACE PARROT schoolers are often unaware of these harmful effects. DESIGN BY REPORTER KENNEDY WADE “If you’re sleep deprived, every cell in your body is impacted by that,” IT'S 6:20 A.M. Junior Olivia Townsend rolls over to silence the opening ringtone, waking her out of her six hours of sleep. Waking up as she OVERSTRETCHED STUDENTS Perry said. “It impacts your overall health on a cellular level.” load of stuff for swim team and dance team that afternoon. A multitude of obstacles stand in the way of getting enough sleep.

Throughout the day, Townsend battles tiredness and perseveres Technology and social media often consume students' attention. Even the through her various honors and advanced placement courses. Once the light emitted from screens makes it harder to sleep. Pressure from school saving 3:10 p.m. bell rings, while various students scramble home to begin a and extracurricular activities causes many students to stay up late and wake few hour Netflix break, is when Townsend really gets to work. up early, resulting in little sleep. Attempting to build a perfect resumé to

Working as efficiently as possible Townsend gets as much homework become the ideal college applicant can start before a student even begins done as possible before 4:45 p.m. Then it's off to swim practice at the high school. Students may even become involved in activities that will look YMCA. As Townsend, who placed at State in the 50m good on resumés, rather than what they are truly passionate freestyle, swims through her sets, she constantly checks the clock on the wall. She crawls out of the pool to begin the sprint back to Sion for a 7-9:45 p.m. dance “We can’t all do it all,” Phillips said. “So about. “We can’t all do it all,” Guidance Counselor Karen Phillips said. “So sometimes I think you have to be realistic practice. Then finally she comes home for some dinner sometimes I think you about you and you’re particular individual life and not what at 10:15 p.m. She wraps up her homework to finally have to be realistic other people may be doing.” goes to bed at 11:30 p.m. “It takes a lot of sleep and concentration to balance it all,” Townsend said. “Thankfully I have my teachers, friends and my family to really just help keep about you and you’re particular individual life and not what other A major time commitment is athletics. Fifty-five percent of high schoolers participate in athletics, according to U.S. News and World Report. Athletic Director Kate Pilgreen estimates that around 65 percent of students are me motivated and to put my best effort into whatever people may be doing.” involved in sports. Between practices and game times, I do.” students have to figure a way to fit everything into their

Lack of sleep plagues high school students across schedules. the country. The national average is seven hours per night. But a school “Swim and dance obviously take a lot of time,” Townsend said. “But survey of 75 students showed that 55 percent get four to six hours of sleep. both make me really happy. With competition mode for dance and State for Teenagers regularly sacrifice their mental and physical health attempting swim and finals it can be a lot.” to be a straight A student who is also involved in extracurriculars, But athletics aren’t the only extracurricular that fill up a student's volunteering and other resumé builders. timetable. Competitive academic clubs like Debate also take much needed

The amount of sleep each person needs varies, but children and young time. In addition to practices and preparing cases and forensic pieces, adults often need more in order to stay awake and alert. In order to be fully students can spend up to 12 hours at a debate tournament in one weekend. rested, students need between eight and nine hours of sleep, according to “It’s a challenge to balance school, debate and other activities, but I Dr. Galyn Perry, a sleep specialist at Children’s Mercy Hospital. think it’s good preparation for the real world,” sophomore Rajitha Velakturi

“Adolescents need nine hours of sleep,” Perry said. “I suspect that most said. Story continued on Page 16...

...Continued from Page 15

During tech week for the annual play and musical, students involved may not even get home until 9 p.m. Senior Tess Prusa said that tech week is usually very stressful. Although it depends on the show, she said they have stayed as late as 11:30 p.m. for "Sister Act." "We are very lucky that most of our teachers are understanding and very excited to see the show," Prusa said. "They are open to the reality that we don't have time to do homework."

An additional struggle is balancing work and school. The average American teenager works 17 hours a week or about three hours a day, according to the Federal Highway Association. Junior Elyse Maker works at the Brookside Toy and Science store.

“I generally work about 16 hours a week and get about four and a half hours of sleep a night,” Maker said. “It can be challenging to focus in class sometimes. But after a while you learn to manage.”

At some point it becomes simply impossible to maintain it all and get a full nine hours of sleep. Coupled with the stress of these activities, sleep deprivation makes it harder for students to excel in what they have dedicated themselves to.

“I would not blame the schools. I think people in general have to take responsibility for their actions and inactions,” Pulmonologist Dr. Steven Hull said. “As a student and as a parent you have to make some choices and you can’t be all things to all people.”

A lack of sleep may be harmful to a student’s academic performance. When a student stays up late to study it is less effective because sleep deprivation causes a decrease in memory, judgment capabilities and focus, according to a study by Johns Hopkins’s sleep researcher Patrick Finan.

“Memory is consolidated during REM sleep which makes students less likely to retain the information,” Pulmonologist Dr. Jeff Graff said.

But teenagers often stay up late to maintain that perfect GPA after a day full of activities. Sleep is the one thing that gets sacrificed.

However, this is often counterintuitive. Sleep improves a high schooler’s ability to perform well academically. Going to bed earlier, rather than later, can be more beneficial to a teenager.

“I tell students to study the night before, the night before the test, and review for no more than an hour the night of,” Psychology teacher Linda Blasdel said. “Because if you are sleep deprived you won’t do as well and are more prone to being anxious.”

Beginning freshman year, students look toward building the perfect resumé. Many colleges look for well-rounded students; one’s that excel academically, are leaders in their extracurriculars, have high test scores and students who volunteer and make an impact in their community. Students must adapt to these pressures by focusing on their passions, rather than trying to become the best at everything, and sacrificing their sleep as they do so.

“If you say I was up till 11 doing homework, maybe you didn’t start until 9 because of practice or student ambassadors or the 400 other things you may do, “Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction Ellen Carmody said. “So I do think we need to look at the lives our students lead and we want them to be fulfilled in a lot of different areas.”

TECHNOLOGY IN THE BEDROOM

Technology is also a leading cause of sleep deprivation. Not only are phones and computers a distraction for students, but they also emit light that interferes with circadian rhythms, the body’s natural sleep clock. Removing screens from the bedroom, and not looking at them an hour before bed can dramatically improve a student’s sleep. However, students stay up late on social media, preventing them from getting to sleep on time.

“The majority of the problem is students not getting to bed on time.” Graff said. "Kids can do a better job of putting the phone away before bed.”

Teenagers also have the unique struggle of physiological changes. As the body matures,

SCHEDULES AT A GLANCE

12-4 AM 5 AM 6AM 7AM 8-3 4 PM 5 PM 6 PM 7 PM 8 PM 9 PM 10 PM 11 PM OLIVIA OVERLEASE SOPHOMORE Sleep Sleep Wake Up Go to School School Field Hockey Field Hockey Shower/ Homework Homework Dinner Homework Sleep Sleep OLIVIA TOWNSEND JUNIOR Sleep Sleep Wake Up Go to School School Homework Swim Swim Swim/ Dance Dance Dance/ Dinner Homework Homework MAGGIE CARR SENIOR Sleep/ Wake Up Get Ready Ice Skate Go to School School Field Hockey Field Hockey Homework Skate or Volunteer Skate or Volunteer Homework Homework Sleep the circadian rhythm changes, affecting energy levels throughout the day. The brain sends signals to the body telling it to stay up later, adding to the numerous reasons a student already has for staying up late. Waking up in time for class and maintaining a healthy sleep schedule is unrealistic for many students.

“There’s a normal tendency for students to have a natural sleep clock that tells them to stay up late and wake up late,” Graff said. “But it’s unrealistic for most high school students.” While staying up late, students often go on their phone to unwind. The average teenager spends upwards of nine hours a day on their phone, according to the Washington Post. Most students check Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter before going to bed.

“For anyone who is having trouble falling asleep at night, the first thing I tell them is to put their phone or laptop away an hour before they go to sleep,” Hull said.

By not using phones before bed, teenagers are less likely to stay up later and will fall asleep easier. However, most find it hard to disconnect from social media and friends. Over 57 percent of students spend over 30 minutes on their phone before bed, according to a survey of 75 students. Students can increase the amount of sleep they get by simply putting their phones away. Junior Maya Bair spends two to three hours on her phone before sleeping.

“I think it’s hard to disconnect from people and conversations which is why we’re always up so late,” Bair said.

Not only do these distractions keep students up, but so does the technology itself. The blue light that is emitted from phone screens tricks the human body into believing that it is day rather than night, disrupting the circadian rhythm. These disturbances in the circadian rhythm not only make it harder to fall asleep, but also affect the body throughout the day. Therefore, many students are less energized, focused and unable to perform at high level.

“Biologically, your body wants to stay awake. With early school start times, it’s a real struggle,” Perry said. “Not only are you trying to deal with getting your homework done, and not getting distracted and not staying on your cell phone or your electronics once you get in bed, but your body is saying you need to stay up later.”

EFFECTS OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION

When a teenager doesn’t get enough sleep their hormones become imbalanced. Cortisol, a stress producing hormone, is overproduced when a person is sleep deprived to keep them awake. When cortisol is overproduced the body suffers physically, putting high schoolers at an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, weight gain, decreased bone and muscle density and lowered immunity. Sleep deprivation can also lead to gastrointestinal issues such as irritable bowel syndrome and other problems.

“If you don’t get enough sleep there can be

issues with weight gain,” Perry said. “People who However, these can cause more harm than good. don’t get enough sleep in general have GI issues.” Even if it feels good, it can cause problems later.

Lack of sleep weakens the immune system. “I feel good as long as it’s not too long,” A study in the Netherlands and the U.K. show senior Emma Cruciani said. “If I accidentally that the biggest effects were take a four hour nap, I get even seen on the white blood cells, which are responsible for fighting infection. “Not sleeping is very more stressed and I’m up till 2 doing my homework.” Naps during the day can make

“Many people get sick counterproductive. students feel more energized, during finals, and lots of The risk of driving however they also make it harder people say it’s that time of the year, when in reality its lack of sleep,” Blasdel said. People who are sleep when you’re sleep deprived going to school in the to go to bed at night. The brain works hard to catch up on the sleep that is missed, so people usually can catch up within about 28 hours deprived are also more likely morning with according to Perry. When you take to be in accidents. Falling traffic is greater a nap during the day to catch up on asleep at the wheel is more likely when people are sleep deprived. Over 6,000 car crashes a year are caused by due to delayed response times.” Perry said. sleep, your body believes it doesn’t need to sleep at night. This reversal of day and night alters the circadian rhythm, making it harder to go to a lack of sleep, which causes bed. delayed judgment increasing “If you stay up all night and the risk of accidents according to Johns Hopkins. sleep during the day and you keep doing that Students who get five to six hours of sleep a then you’ll actually flip the clock,” Perry said. night are twice as likely to get in a car wreck as someone who got eight hours according to NPR. How much sleep do you get?

“Not sleeping is very counterproductive,” Perry said. “The risk of driving when you’re sleep deprived going to school in the morning with traffic is greater due to delayed response times.” 12% get over 8

Sleep deprivation also affects student’s mood and emotional health. Teenagers who don’t 55% get 2% get less sleep as much are at a greater risk of depression 6-8 hours than 3 and anxiety. High schoolers often become more stressed due to a lack of sleep. “Sleep deprivation can make you more 31% get 4-6 hours irritable,” Graff said. “It leads to low energy and fatigue, as well.”

SLEEPING SOLUTIONS

In addition to reducing the use of technology at night, students can help themselves get more sleep in other ways. In order to improve their sleep patterns, students must prioritize sleep. Even if teenagers feel they are functioning with little sleep, it can still have a harmful effect on them.

“We don’t prioritize sleep. If people understand the significance of sleep deficiency, of not getting enough sleep, I think that would make a difference,” Perry said. “People think they can function adequately without sleep, and then they diminish the importance of sleep.”

For most teenagers, going to bed earlier is simply not going to happen. The change students must take begins with putting phones and other electronics away to focus on sleep. Many students who are sleep deprived don’t see a problem with it because they feel they are still functioning on at a high level, but they are not. Naps and caffeine are common tools used by high schoolers to combat fatigue from a lack of sleep.

How long do you use your phone before bed?

11% Don’t

29% said over one hour 32% said less than 30 minutes

28% between 30 minutes and one hour

Do you take sleep medication?

32% use melatonin

3% use other

65% said no

-Results from student survey

“And that’s really hard to fix.”

Reducing stress positively impacts sleep. Students can reduce stress by exercising, doing yoga, and reducing caffeine intake. Many teenagers use caffeine to stay awake during the day, however it ultimately makes it harder to sleep at night.

“I really can’t get through many school days without coffee. I literally fall asleep in class without it,” junior Bridget Schumm said.

In cases where students find it increasingly difficult to fall asleep, teenagers also use overthe-counter sleep medications. Melatonin, the most common, can temporarily help high schoolers fall asleep. However, melatonin is not always powerful enough and many develop tolerances to it over time, according to Perry.

“I’ve been taking melatonin for about three months,” sophomore Kate Conway said. “I have anxiety with sleeping so it helps calm me down and all that.”

Later start times for schools would also improve students’ sleeping habits. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Medical Association and the Centers for Disease Control all recommend later start times for teenagers. The AAP recommends that “Personally, I schools start no would love to earlier than 8:30 a.m.. However, in order for later starts see an 8:30 a.m. start every to have an impact, day,” Carmody high schoolers must be responsible enough go to sleep said. “We can say not only earlier rather than do we know stay up later. “I don’t think the schools how to educate them, but themselves are also we know harmful other than their social, the fact they do start too early,” Hull said. “I support the emotional needs.” legislation out in California. There is definite supporting research that if children go to school later they do better.”

Late starts would also need to be implemented throughout other schools in order for them to become a reality, according to Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction Ellen Carmody. Inconsistent start and end times would cause students to repeatedly have to miss class time in order to attend games since other schools would get out much earlier.

“Personally, I would love to see an 8:30 a.m. start every day,” Carmody said. “We can say not only do we know how to educate them, but also we know their social, emotional needs.”