Your profile is an easy-to-create Web page where you can post personal information - such as your name, email address, hobbies, likes and dislikes, and photographs and videos of yourself, your friends and your family - and can set up contacts or ‘friends’ lists.
Ultimately, many of your students are participating in social networking, so it makes sense to understand what it’s about. Not only will you get insight into their world, it will help to remind them that the internet is a public place.
But, as a teacher or other member of the school workforce, it’s important that you consider how you present yourself in your social networking profile and who will see it.
Considering the popularity of social networking among young people, some of your students could be members of the same social networking site as you or will, at least, know how to search the internet for your profile. How would you feel if they read your profile and saw your photos? Or invited you to be their friend? Or started harassing you on your message wall?
Research by the ATL and Teacher Support Network in March 2010 revealed some key concerns about social networking among school staff: Nearly a quarter of respondents say they or a colleague have been told by their employer (or a colleague) to remove something from their social networking profile; over 40 per cent are worried that information about them on social networking sites may be used in disciplinary action; and 94 per cent of respondents know of colleagues who have been the subject of online groups set up to discuss or post abusive messages about them.
Fortunately, many of the leading social networking sites offer privacy and safety features so that you can set boundaries and still enjoy your online social network with the people you choose. Once you’ve uploaded your personal details, digital images and contacts, you’ll be able to hide, edit or limit what appears in your profile and restrict who has access to it.
If you have a Facebook profile, please note that Facebook made changes to its privacy settings in May 2010 so you'll need to update your settings if you haven't done so already.
Where can I find out more?
- Check your school’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) to see if it offers any guidance about social networking.
- Speak to your e-safety co-ordinator if you have specific concerns.
- Read Teachtoday’s advice for helping to keep your online social networking profile private and safe.
- Check the ‘Safety’ or ‘Help’ sections of your social networking site or contact them if you have a specific question.