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Let Schools Keep an Eye on Kids if It Means Safety
Some schools are rolling out a new initiative to monitor students’ social media activities on platforms like Twitter and Facebook. Honestly, if it helps ensure our kids are safe, I’m all in.
Bill Thompson, chair of the local school board, shared, “We track specific keywords that could indicate danger, such as ‘gun,’ ‘attack,’ or ‘kill.’” The school board released a statement emphasizing, “Social media can be a breeding ground for bullying, school threats, or hidden cries for help. Therefore, it’s our responsibility to monitor these public platforms where anyone can see the comments.”
Parenting in today’s digital world brings a slew of challenges regarding our children’s safety. One hot topic has been the privacy of students online and how schools should engage with their social media activities. Some believe monitoring should solely fall on parents, while others feel schools should step in since online interactions can easily affect real-life school dynamics. I firmly belong to the latter group. If monitoring my kids’ social media accounts enhances their safety, let the schools do their thing.
Some parents argue that this monitoring is an invasion of privacy. One mom mentioned, “It’s not the school’s job to parent.” I get that, but this isn’t about parenting; it’s about ensuring the safety of students and staff on school grounds. If a school can prevent potential threats and avert a tragedy, they should embrace that approach.
And as for privacy? Let’s be real. Anything your child posts online is not truly private. If you’re worried about privacy, suggest they write in a diary and hide it under their bed. Twitter and Facebook are public spaces, and no matter how tight the privacy settings, they can still be accessed. Ever heard of screenshots? It’s 2015—time to wake up, parents.
My daughter is only eight, but I know we’ll soon face the social media challenge. I would welcome her school implementing this kind of program since it could also tackle bullying. Nowadays, kids can’t escape the torment of peers even after getting off the bus; it’s just a swipe away. When it comes to schools using this technology, I see it as an adaptation to the times. Schools can’t ignore the reality of social media and its influence on student interactions.
Sure, not every post with those “trigger words” is about a threat, and I’d wager that most aren’t. If your son mentions “guns” in a post that turns up in a search, once it’s reviewed, I’m confident it will be understood as a harmless reference to a video game rather than a school-related threat. The goal is to identify and prevent potential tragedies, not to punish students for innocent posts. Remember, if their social media profiles aren’t completely locked down, anyone can view what they share. If the school wants to monitor it, I fully support that. As a parent, I need all the help I can get.
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Summary:
The article discusses the implementation of social media monitoring programs in schools to enhance student safety. While some parents view this as an invasion of privacy, the author argues that it’s essential for safeguarding students against potential threats and bullying in today’s digital landscape.