Not a surprise that student use of social media is way up since remote learning became de rigeur in learning. Social media limits users to 13+ but doesn’t monitor that. What could sober education’s on-going concern about the dangers of COVID is the booming number of arrests of students for misuse of social media. My conclusion: We aren’t teaching enough about the proper use of social media platforms and the danger of cyberbullying.
Read this article from DA District Administration and see if you agree:
Student behavior on social media is now a bigger threat than COVID
by Matt Zalaznick
Though the threats appear unfounded, they are closing classrooms and raising anxiety as schools are trying to find some send of normalcy.
More from Ask a Tech Teacher on social media:
- 5 Helpful YouTube Features for Teachers
- Social Media Trends you Need to Be Aware of this School Year
- How to Teach Social Media Safety
Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice, CSTA presentation reviewer, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.
I wasn’t aware of arrests of students for the misuse of social media. That seems to be quite a concern.
I got the sense that those arrests were for breaking the law–the SM use was the vehicle, not the infraction. Like young hackers are arrested. But the point is good–SM is not monitored well among under 13s.