Essay Example: Schools Can't Punish Students for What They Say on Social Media

At the age of 13, A. decided to download Instagram. She posted a picture and captioned it with “The school I go to has many flaws.” with an ongoing paragraph of why. The next day, A. was notified that she would be facing consequences after someone took a screenshot of what she had said and reported it. That wasn’t all, another person named Sam who had commented and liked the post also got the same consequences for being associated. In many schools, school officials have the ability to get involved in what students say on social media. Schools should not be able to discipline what students say on social media.

Social media is a source of communication allowing students to share their thoughts and be creative. Tufts University wrote an article stating, “Social media refers to the means of interactions among people in which they create, share, and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks.” (Social Media Overview, 2021). It allows students to be expressive and learn more about the opinions of others. The people at raisingchildren.net.au, an Australian parenting website, validated by scientifically proven information, believe that social media offers an abundance of benefits. Those include, having fun, making and maintaining friendships, sharing interests, exploring identities and developing relationships with family (Social media benefits and risks: children and teenagers, 2020). These websites all prove in some way how the usage of social media is for people to connect with others as it is used for socialization. If schools were to punish the students for what they say on social media during their interactions with others, then they might end up discouraged from ever doing so again. This is remarkably important considering communication is a key life skill. Once more, raisingchildren.net.au also believes this too. They express that communication with children is essential to their relationships and development (​​Communicating Well with Babies and Children: Tips, 2020).

Often, what is said on social media has no relevance to school since the usage of phones and technology are often prohibited. Many schools banned the usage of phones during school hours. It is agreed on by many teachers that phones aren’t welcomed in their classrooms. Many teachers have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to phones during class since they assume their students are using them to text friends or update their various social media platforms (Graham, n.d.). According to EdWeek’s article Schools Say No to Cellphones in Class. But Is It a Smart Move?, “More than 30 schools, or in some cases, entire districts have enacted or stepped up some sort of cellphone restrictions beginning in either the 2018-19 school year or the start of this academic year, according to an Education Week analysis. California recently passed legislation that allows school districts to restrict or prohibit device use in class, although it’s not a requirement. And at least four other states debated putting significant limits on the devices.” (Klein, 2020). That is not the only place that has restrictions on phones. Other countries like China and Canada have also banned phones during school. In 2019, Ontario banned the utilization of cellphones. Under the ban, students were only allowed to use their phones if it’s for educational purposes, health purposes, or special needs (Cellphone ban in Ontario classrooms starts today, 2019). If phones are not allowed to be used in school, that means that whatever students say on social media happens outside of school premises. Schools shouldn’t be able to have jurisdiction over what is being said in places like home.

As an American citizen, it violates the first amendment. The Preamble gives an introduction to the Constitution. “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” StopLearn, an Edtech company, wrote, “National laws are laws of the country for the good, protection and provisions of every citizen of the Nation.  Disobedience to any law may also lead to national punishment.” (​​Disobedience against the national law, 2020). Breaking any law could result negatively. Since the first amendment is part of the law, it was made to follow. The Constitution was written by our founding fathers because they thought there was a necessary purpose for it in this country. The first amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” The first amendment offers to the public the freedom of speech, meaning as citizens, you are allowed to say whatever unless it's extensively vulgar or unmannerly. 

Schools shouldn’t be allowed to punish kids for how they interact with social media. Social media is a source of communication and what is said on social media has no relevance to school since the usage of phones is often prohibited. Additionally, as an American, it violates the first amendment. The world’s usage of technology continues to expand. The ages of kids keep getting pushed down to how old they are to get involved with social media. It is shown by CNNHealth the statistics done by Common Senses Median back in 2016 showing 23% of tweens, ages 8-12 had social media (Howard, 2018). So, if many schools care what is being said so much, social media may become banned in many school districts.