Facebook and inappropriate contact

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - In several recent cases in West Michigan, people in authority -- teachers, staff members, etc. -- have been accused of sending inappropriate messages on social media sites to students. 24 Hour News 8 asked the experts Thursday if websites like Facebook are causing more incidents like those.  

"I don't think we're necessarily seeing more," said Kent County Undersheriff Jon Hess. "You hear about them, obviously, when they happen."

Hess said conversations or messages between people on social media websites create a solid record. That's a record police can then subpoena in a criminal case.   

"I guess if people are going to put this information out there and provide it for us to use, then yeah, definitely it's there for the police officer to use and it's good evidence," said Hess.

Hess stressed that once something is posted on Facebook or any social media site, there is a record of it.

"I think you just have to realize what you say on a social network is not only something on the day where you talked about it, it's in print. It's there. Other people are going to see it. It's evidence of what you said," said Hess.

Recent cases have raised another question: Should all school districts have strict social media policies?

Grand Rapids Community College Communications and Technology Manager Derek DeVries said no.

"It's probably most important to get back to the basics and link any social media policy back the existing policies," said DeVries. "It's very difficult to craft social media policy given that it's changing all the time and there are so many different permutations. It's better to really encourage good responsible behavior and remind employees that their conduct guidelines apply to social media."  

DeVries said it's great for teachers to get information from their districts about social media sites and how to use them for instruction. But he said that technology changes so fast that it's difficult to write an all-encompassing social media policy.   

"Some of them are too specific," said DeVries. "They leave out certain things. They leave out certain platforms. Anything in the next five years -- we have no idea what's coming."

But DeVries said going offline isn't the best answer for many reasons, one of which is that it might not be in the best interest of students.   

"They can explore on their own time and contribute and have discussions that go beyond the classroom, which is really what you hope for as a teacher -- that your students take this information and don't forget it the minute they walk out of the classroom," said DeVries.

DeVries said the best idea is to try to create transparency online.  

He recommended that if teachers want to use a site like Facebook, they should create an open group page for all of their students to access. If there is a need to send a personal message via e-mail or social media to a student, DeVries recommends copying someone else from the district in a position of authority on the note.  

"The goal with most social media policies is to create a situation where there's nothing improper," said DeVries. "It creates a situation where it removes the possibility of something improper happening because everything is visible to everyone."

--

Online:

Facebook for Educators