Appropriate use of social media
The internet, mobile phones and social media provide wonderful opportunities for students to network and
socialise online. While these technologies provide positive platforms for sharing ideas, they also have the
potential to cause pain and suffering to individuals, groups or even whole communities.
It’s important to remember that sometimes negative comments posted about the school community have a
greater impact than expected. This guide offers some information about how to use social media in relation
to comments or posts about the school community. Reputations of students, teachers, schools, principals
and even parents can be permanently damaged — and in some cases, serious instances of inappropriate
online behaviour are dealt with by police and the court system.
Being aware of a few simple strategies can help keep the use of social media positive and constructive: Before you post something online, ask yourself if the community or individual really need to
know.
Is it relevant, positive and helpful? Remember that what you post online is a direct reflection of who you are. People will
potentially form lasting opinions of you based on what you post online. Be a good role model. If things get heated online consider logging out and taking a few
moments to relax and think. Hasty, emotive responses could inflame situations unnecessarily. Be mindful when commenting, try to keep general and avoid posting anything that could
identify individuals. A few years ago parents may have discussed concerns or issues with their friends at the
school gate. Today with the use of social media, online discussions between you and your
close friends can very quickly be shared with a much wider audience, potentially far larger
than intended. Taking a few moments to think about the content you are about to post could save upset,
embarrassment, and possible legal action. As a parent you have a role in supervising and regulating your child’s online activities at home
and its impact on the reputation and privacy of others. Parents are their child’s first teachers
— so they will learn online behaviours from you.
Is it appropriate to comment or post about schools, staff or students?
Parental and community feedback is important for schools and the department. If you have a compliment,
complaint or enquiry about an issue at school, the best approach is to speak directly to the school about the
matter, rather than discussing it in a public forum.
While many schools use social media to update parents of school notices, the department prefers that
parents contact schools directly with a compliment, complaint or enquiry due to privacy considerations.
Imagine if your doctor, accountant or banking institution tried to contact you to discuss important matters via
Facebook.
If you have raised an issue with a school or know that another person has, consider refraining from
discussing those details on social media, particularly the names of anyone involved.
Keep comments calm and polite, just as you would over the telephone or by email. If you encounter
negative or derogatory content online which involves the school, hinders a child’s learning and/or affects the
school community at large, contact the school principal.
What about other people’s privacy?
If you upload photos of your children, be mindful of who might be in the background. You might be happy
to share your child’s successes with your friends and family via social media, but some parents are not.
If you are tagging or naming students, consider that other parents may not want their child’s name
attached to images online.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is treated at Picnic Creek State School with the same level of seriousness as in-person
bullying. The major difference with cyberbullying however, is that unlike in-person bulling, cyberbullying
follows students into their community, their homes and their bedrooms, giving them no opportunity to
escape the harassment or abuse during the evening, weekends or holidays.
In the first instance, students or parents who wish to make a report about cyberbullying should approach
the regular class teacher. The school Assistant Principals are also a point of referral for students, parents
or staff for assistance in preventing and responding to cyberbullying.
It is important for students, parents and staff to know that state school principals have the authority to take
disciplinary action to address student behaviours that occur outside of school hours or school grounds.
This includes cyberbullying. Parents and students who have concerns about cyberbullying incidents
occurring during school holidays should immediately seek assistance through the Office of the e-Safety
Commissioner or the Queensland Police Service.
Students enrolled at Picnic Creek State School may face in-school disciplinary action, such as detention or
removing of privileges, or more serious consequences such as suspension or exclusion from school for
engaging in behaviour that adversely affects, or is likely to adversely affect, other students or the good
order and management of the school. This includes behaviour such as cyberbullying which occurs outside
of school hours or settings, for example on the weekend or during school holidays. It also applies to
inappropriate online behaviour of enrolled students that is directed towards other community members or
students from other school sites.
Parents or other stakeholders who engage in inappropriate online behaviour towards students, staff or
other parents may be referred to the Office of the e-Safety Commissioner and/or the Queensland Police
Service. State school staff will be referred for investigation to the Integrity and Employee Relations team in
the Department of Education.