LaTrina Baker-Smith EDU 7560 September 9, 2013 Acceptable Use Policy Reflection

Acceptable use policies in schools are very important and necessary and should be shared with in great detail with students, faculty, and staff. The video used in the presentation on acceptable use was very well organized and child friendly. The importance of internet safety and precautions were reiterated often. Students should be reminded often of the seriousness of appropriately using the internet and technology gadgets. The communication era has broadened and with the expansion comes a greater need for safety procedures. According to the National Institute on Media and Family, 77 percent of American teens own a cell phone. These types of statistics strongly suggest that parents, teachers and administrators have an obligation to effectively educate students about such issues as sexting, cyber bullying, netiquette, and general best practices when it relates to communication on and through social media. Sexting which is the sending of inappropriate text or images displaying nudity or sexual acts is on the increase. The Pew Research Center reports that 15 percent of children have received these types of messages or images on their cell phones. Students must realize that pictures sent today will remain in existence for a lifetime. Gone are the days of just destroying the negatives and taking the original picture out of circulation. Once sent, inappropriate text or pictures can continuously be forwarded and go viral within minutes. Student who create these images are often unaware of the lasting effects that the pictures may have on them. First and foremost, the

pictures or text will cause embarrassment to the student once they are distributed to the masses. Secondly, these images can resurface later in a students life and cause them hardships when applying for scholarships and jobs. Students also often fail to realize that indulging in such

behaviors can have other lasting effects such as a criminal record. According to MISS. CODE ANN. 97-5-33 (2008) it is a felony crime to manufacture, distribute or possess any child pornography materials. The crime can lead to 5 to 40 years in prison, up to a $500.000 fine, and required registration as a sex offender. Students can easily tarnish their future potentials without ever considering the seriousness of using technology inappropriately. Cyber bullying which can be defined as using the Internet, cell phones, video game systems, or other technology to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person is another serious issue that must be confronted as students continually use social media and advanced technological gadgets. Cyber bullying is the fastest growing type of bullying. According to the National Crime Prevention Council, 43 percent of teens have been victims of cyber bullying in the last year. Students must understand the importance of not bullying others and school district personnel have to enforce the outlined actions for such discrepancies in order to lessen the frequency of such inappropriate behavior. Students must also be taught what bullying is, and how to seek help. Finally, a good acceptable use policy discusses the use of netiquette or social etiquette for social media. Netiquette just like proper etiquette must be modeled and taught to our students in order for them to display those characteristics on the internet. Treating others the way we want to be treated is the golden rule of netiquette. However, students must be taught what to share and what not to share on the internet. It is not alright to talk to total strangers and divulge information regardless of how harmless it may seem. Mutual respect is another very important rule in

netiquette. Social media and other technological features are here to stay and we must educate our students on how to be responsible and respectful when using these technological devises in this new area of digital and social media.

References

Lee, C. (2013). Tips for kids and inappropriate cell phone use. Retrieved from www.ehow.com MISS. CODE ANN. 97-5-33 (2008) www.mobilemediaguard.com www.ncpc.org