September 24, 2007
Answers to three FAQs:
1) Yes, I’m on Facebook. *
2) No, I don’t “friend” my students. **
3) I’m really not sure what to make of this:
In the wake of scrutiny of the hot social network by Attorney General Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, his New York state counterpart, Andrew M. Cuomo, has subpoenaed Facebook asking for information on how it handles complaints regarding the inappropriate solicitation of under-age users.
I have to think about this issue in two ways, which is the problem. On the one hand, I think the idea of going after Facebook because of what some of its users use it for is kind of ridiculous. Yes, the internet can be a dangerous place. Yes, there are sketchy people who want nothing more than to bother (and worse) teenagers and children. Yes, the internet makes it a little easier for them to do that. But at the same time, our students know far more about the internet than we do, and if we spend our time babying and coddling them while they’re in high school, there’s no way they’ll be able to fend for themselves later.
But then, I realize that as a teacher, I have to be concerned about what my students are getting themselves into that could harm them. One reason I don’t want my students to try and “friend” (when did that become a verb, anyway?) me is that when they do, they allow me to look at their profiles, and it’s so tempting for me to do so and make sure that they’re not doing anything stupid. And then we have to have the awkward conversation the following morning about Why It’s Not A Good Idea To Friend Your Teacher When Your Profile Picture Shows You Drinking Beer Right From The Pitcher.
So what’s the deal? Should Facebook do more to protect its users? Is there anything weird about “friending” your students? Is Facebook some sort of new paradigm, or is it going to fade out soon?
Added: A couple of pieces worth reading about social networking as a sociological phenomenon: “Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism” and “Viewing American class divisions through Facebook and MySpace.”
* I joined a while ago, but didn’t really use it for much until I got back from SUISS this summer and found that most of my friends from over there were using it to communicate. Email is pretty much dead if you’re in your 20s or below. Since then, I’ve gotten hooked, I admit, on a couple of the external apps: Scrabulous and iLike (which I use to dedicate the worst songs I can think of to an old friend of mine who I rarely see in real life).
** So just stop trying, okay?
September 24th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
These are pretty tough questions. I think sites like MySpace and Facebook should (and usually do) take all reasonable steps to make their services as safe as possible. Beyond that, we are collectively responsible. I mean, is it the Department of Transportation’s fault that, even though the roads are built to code and marked correctly, people still drive dangerously?
As for the “friending” of students, my policy was: I’ll be delighted to add you as a friend … after you graduate.
September 26th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
As a new-ish Facebook user, and an American educator who’s never taught in the paranoid USA (and thus doesn’t have to face the attendant fears and questions), so maybe you can explain:
What’s the problem with those “It’s Not A Good Idea To Friend Your Teacher When Your Profile Picture Shows You Drinking Beer Right From The Pitcher” conversations?
Seems like that’s where relevant “teaching” might start?
September 26th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Ouch, no intent to imply that you’re paranoid, Jeff. You know that, right?
September 26th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Well, I’m all for the teachable moment, but getting into possible legal ramifications for nonhypothetical lawbreaking can be hard. I had to do it this morning with one of my students, and while I think he “got” it, it put me in an awkward place–do I need to report any of it to his counselor/social worker/school psychologist/parents? If I don’t, and he keeps drinking, am I somehow responsible?
Those kinds of questions, y’know?
September 26th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
It makes me thankful I work outside the States.
It’s weird. Expats live sort of outside the law, especially in non-English speaking countries. That includes the students.
I tell the students who friend me that they’d better be comfortable, if they don’t limit my access, to whatever they have on their pages. And comfortable with future employers and colleges seeing it too.
It seems to give them pause. And I’m sure you’ve covered the same things in talks with your folks.
All interesting stuff.
But I love getting updates from students at my old school in Shanghai, now that I’m in Seoul. Facebook is great that way.
September 26th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Oh, and I do understand your dilemma, by the way. I’d probably do the same, if I weren’t rootless and nomadic