Schools monitor students’ social media
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Some schools around the country have begun monitoring their students’ activity on social media due to a rise in cyberbullying.
The monitoring is meant to be a positive thing to help keep students, teachers, and administrators safe in schools, and the software some schools are using is called Snaptrends.
It can monitor posts for all accounts in a certain region.
Schools in Orange County, Fla., started using the software this year, according to a report from WESH-TV in Orlando, while schools in Huntsville, Ala., started monitoring students’ online interactions last year, according to CNN.
Software like Snaptrends has become more popular because of the rise in substance abuse, violence, bullying, and other threatening acts.
However, this type of software is not used by the Kearsley district, according to Dean of Students Brian Boudreau.
“We don’t personally (monitor students),” Boudreau said. “If a student brings a threat, then we look. But we do not initiate it.”
Yet last year, the high school and middle school were put on lockdown because of a threat that was made on Twitter.
Assistant Principal Matt Moore said federal officials saw the tweet.
“Someone from Washington, D.C., is monitoring students’ activity,” Moore said. “The post was flagged, the superintendent was alerted, they contacted the principal, and the police were already on their way.”
Every once in a while, they (school officials) should check. Some people are threatened but are too scared to talk to people who may be able to help them
— Abbey Watts, junior
KHS does not monitor its students’ posts, but there are government agencies that do.
The government monitors social media all over the country, and when certain words or phrases are flagged, it alerts the school districts or areas that the post came from.
Some students, like junior Abbey Watts, feel that social media should be monitored.
“Every once in a while, they (school officials) should check,” Watts said. “Some people are threatened but are too scared to talk to people who may be able to help them.”
Junior Demonte Bullock also believes social media should be monitored.
“A lot of stuff can go on, and if it’s not checked, then bullying can go on,” Bullock said.
