Social media and schools
"School should have a clear social media policy which sets out what
action the school is going to take in the event of a transgression" - Social media law expert advises.
LISTEN: East Coast Breakfast chats to our social media law expert Verlie Oosthuizen
Schools have many responsibilities and duties when it comes to the protection of their learners. However, they also have a “brand” that they have to look out for. When silly teenagers post questionable material on social media or get caught saying something that they should not it is unlikely that they would have been thinking about the consequences.
Unfortunately, schools are placed in the position more and more where their learners are reported by the public for utterances on the web and then the school is expected to take action. When disciplinary processes follow, which are undeniably unpleasant, parents get upset and rush to the defence of their children.
The answer is to have a clear social media policy which sets out what action the school is going to take in the event of a transgression. Social media is now a part of everyday life and cannot be ignored.
It is always better to have a plan of action in place than to scramble for idea once “the horse has bolted”. Parents and learners need to be informed about the contents of a social media policy and educated about how schools are going to deal with it.
Verlie OosthuizenShepstone & Wylie Social Media Law Department