This year, our 8th Graders are turning 13. Not only does this mark the start of their teen years, but it also is the cutoff age for many social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Today the 8th Graders discussed social networks, how they work, and how students can navigate them safely. First, we took a survey to find out what social networks our students are using.  Most of the "Others" were the 5 students who were not on any social network. Next, we viewed a few student profiles online. Some of them were surprised that they could be found. Following was a wide-ranging discussion about reasonable precautions and possible consequences for social networking online. Here were the key ideas:
We also realized that students can build positive social networking presences. Schools and businesses check applicants online activity to find out who they are. Most people assume that your instagram or twitter feed will be full of bad behavior, but it can also show that you are a conscientious, hardworking student with diverse interests over the course of many years. As long as you think carefully about what you want your social network activity to say, it can be turned to your advantage. |
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