Spring Break
Internet complicates media privacy issues
Editorial Board
Issue date: 11/5/09 Section: Commentary
Internet privacy is an issue that is often bandied about, but no one realizes the extent to which it matters until it has a direct impact. There is a broad spectrum of activities that fall under privacy, but for many students at least, the issue is photos and words on social networking sites and blogs. Sites such as Facebook or LiveJournal might lead students into a false sense of security. Privacy settings and friend requests tend to make us believe that what we write or post is available only to those we allow to view them. More often than not, though, material posted online is not private.
One prominent example is the case of Doninger v. Niehoff. It deals with the issue of students' own private expressions on their own time and the amount of regulation their schools can impose upon them. In this case, the administration had canceled an event that Doninger was planning and in response, she posted an insult directed at the school's administration on her private blog, urging students to call in. The administration reacted by disqualifying Doninger from running for a position in student government. Doninger brought this case to court, saying her freedom of speech had been violated. Thus far, she has lost her appeals, as the rulings have stated that the school was within their bounds to punish her because actions might have led to disruption at school. Nonetheless, these were her own private thoughts and feelings that she had written with the intention to vent to her close friends, not the entire world.
Schools have become increasingly involved in students' private lives. Two high school girls in Indiana recently sued their school after they were suspended from fall sports due to racy MySpace photos, claiming that their free speech rights were violated.
Where does the line between what a school is allowed to act on and what a school should not pursue end? Employers and schools can and do access these words and images and while they will not censure, they will make decisions based upon what they find. While this does not seem fair or right, society has deemed it acceptable for schools and employers to judge students and employees based on their pictures and words. Everyone should be careful about the information that they post online. In a perfect world, freedom of speech would ensure that one could post whatever details or images he or she might like, but unfortunately that is not always the case.
One prominent example is the case of Doninger v. Niehoff. It deals with the issue of students' own private expressions on their own time and the amount of regulation their schools can impose upon them. In this case, the administration had canceled an event that Doninger was planning and in response, she posted an insult directed at the school's administration on her private blog, urging students to call in. The administration reacted by disqualifying Doninger from running for a position in student government. Doninger brought this case to court, saying her freedom of speech had been violated. Thus far, she has lost her appeals, as the rulings have stated that the school was within their bounds to punish her because actions might have led to disruption at school. Nonetheless, these were her own private thoughts and feelings that she had written with the intention to vent to her close friends, not the entire world.
Schools have become increasingly involved in students' private lives. Two high school girls in Indiana recently sued their school after they were suspended from fall sports due to racy MySpace photos, claiming that their free speech rights were violated.
Where does the line between what a school is allowed to act on and what a school should not pursue end? Employers and schools can and do access these words and images and while they will not censure, they will make decisions based upon what they find. While this does not seem fair or right, society has deemed it acceptable for schools and employers to judge students and employees based on their pictures and words. Everyone should be careful about the information that they post online. In a perfect world, freedom of speech would ensure that one could post whatever details or images he or she might like, but unfortunately that is not always the case.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
bob
posted 11/05/09 @ 11:44 AM EST
In a class on business ethics one day, the professor stated don't ever post anything on the internet you wouldn't want posted on the front page of the NY Times. (Continued…)
Lido Shuffler
posted 11/05/09 @ 11:47 AM EST
This is terrific advice. Prospective employers regularly check internet social networking sites when doing background checks.
You also need to use caution when sending what could be compromising photos to your friends. (Continued…)
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