Online Students – Beware of Social Networking Sites
Apr 30th, 2007
Social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook offer a fun way to connect with friends and family. But, time has shown that employers and colleges look down on the overly personal content users post to these sites.
Consider the recent case of stacy Snider, an education student at Millersville University of Pennsylvania. Just before her graduation, university officials found a picture of Snyder sipping from a plastic cup and wearing a pirate cap. Beneath the picture were the words: "Drunken Pirate." The results were life-changing. Wired Campus explains:
"Although Ms. Snyder was of legal drinking age when the photo was taken, Millersville administrators deemed the image 'unprofessional,' and they refused to award her an education degree and the teaching certificate that came along with it. (Instead they issued her a degree in English.)"
The young graduate is suing the school for the right to teach. But, whatever the outcome of her case, the lesson remains: be careful of posting questionable material anywhere on the web. If this relatively moderate photo cost a woman her future as a teacher, posting on social networking sites can be dangerous for anyone. Online students are especially at risk because they are judged completely by their virtual persona.
For more on this story see: A MySpace Photo Costs a Student a Teaching Certificate
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