I - Introduction11

A.  In the Beginning12

B.  Social Networking Sites13

1.) Growth13

a) Online Communities for Users to Join14

b) Most Popular Sites16

2.) The Future17

3.) Profile of Members18

4.) Join Them, Don’t Fight Them19

a.)National School Boards Association Study19

II – Dangers. 23

A.  In General 23

B.  Specific Dangers. 25

1.) Abduction26

2.) Child Pornography26

3.) Cyber-Bullying. 26

4.) Cyber-Stalking. 26

5.) Death Threats. 27

6.) Fraud. 27

7.) Gang Recruitment. 27

8.) Harassment. 27

9.) Hybrid Phishing Scheme. 28

10.) Identity Theft. 28

11.) Lurking Sexual Predators. 28

12.) Rape. 29

13.) Susceptibility to Hacking. 29

C.  Unintended Consequences. 29

1.) Arrest. 29

2.) Child Endangerment. 29

        3.) College Admission Denied30

4.) Expelled from College. 30

5.) Job Loss. 30

6.) Murder. 31

7.) Nude Photo Published. 31

8.) Sexual Assault. 31

9.) Theft31

D. Addiction and Isolation.. 32

III – Safe Use Tips and Guidelines. 32

A.  Prior to Registration.. 33

B.  Registering. 33

C.  During Use. 33

D.  Getting Out. 34

E.  Friends. 36

IV – School Policies. 37

A.  Public School – Computer Safety. 37

B.  Public School - Internet Safety. 39

1.) Youth and the Internet – Online Life of Teenagers. 40

2.) Why Parents Must Mind MySpace. 40

3.) To Catch a Predator. 40

4.) A Dad’s Encounter with the Vortex of Facebook. 40

C.  Private School Ban.. 43

D.  What to Do After an Incident. 43

1.) For a  Student43

         2.) For a Parent 44

         3.) For the School 44

V – School Resource Officer. 45

A.  The Concerned School Resource Officer. 45

1.) Keeping Adminsitrators, Parents and Students informed. 45

2.) School Discipline. 47

a) Expulsion.. 47

1.) Threatening Emails. 48

2.) Flashing Gang Signs. 48

3.) Posing with Drugs, Guns and Money.. 48

4.) Brawl Arranged on MySpace.. 48

5.) Threat to Principal 48

6.) Posting Nude Photo.. 48

7.) Posting a Parody of Principal 48

8.) Posting Anonymous Threat. 49

9.) Posting Video of Teacher. 49

b) Suspension.. 49

1.) Posting Photos of Drinking. 49

2.) Posting Poem Harassing Girl 49

3.) Posting Photos of Fight. 50

4.) Posting Photos of Teacher. 50

5.) Facebook Page Identifies Teacher as a Pedophile.. 50

VI – Positive Uses of Social Networking Sites51

A.  In General - SRO.. 51

     B. In General - Schools53

1.) Drop Out Strategy. 53

2.) Getting Everyone on the Same Page – New School 54

3.) Creating and Selling School Sports Photos. 54

4.) Collaboration on Science Projects. 54

5.) Use of Library MySpace page. 55

6.) Innovative Homework. 55

7.) Aligning Curriculum with Teen Second Life. 55

8.) Track Team Wiki Site. 56

9.) Teacher Blogs. 56

10.) Enhancing Education in Business. 56

VII –The Law.. 56

A. Federal Law - Introduction.. 56

B.  Site Vendors. 57

1.) Delayed Objection.. 59

2.) MySpace Not Liable for Assault. 59

C. Copyright. 59

1.) Making Copies of a Newsletter. 59

2.) Unauthorized Copy of Software. 60

D. Rights and Liabilities of School Administrators. 61

1.) Right to Sue 61

          2.) Student Freedom of Speech not Protected63        

3.) Additional First Amendment Freedom of Speech Cases 66

E.  The Law and Blogs. 69

F. Privacy. 71

1.) Social Networking Sites72

a) Using a Privacy Setting. 74

b) Not Using a Privacy Setting. 74

2.) Email 75

a) Email Sent to Personal Attorney.. 76

b) Personal Emails of a Sexual Nature.. 76

c) Expectation of Privacy – eBay Account. 76

d) Email to Attorney – Privilege.. 77

e) Private Account on Employer Computer. 77

f) Emails Waive Attorney Client Privilege.. 78

g) Reading Emails in Personal Folder on Company Computer. 78

h) Employer Not Liable for Threatening Emails. 79

i) Duty to Act – Child Pornography.. 79

j) Emails Converted by Cell Phone to Text. 80

k) Releasing Emails to the Press – Privacy Claim... 80

l.) Expectation of Privacy – At-Will Employee.. 80

3.) Violation of Can-Spam Act. 81

4.) Search Employee’s Computer. 81

5.) Posting Opinions on a Blog. 81

6.) Search of Employee’s Computer Evidence of Work Related Misconduct. 82

7.) Company Turns over Laptop to Government. 82

8.) Use of Spyware in Civil Action.. 82

9.) State Laws. 83

10.) Sites to Visit for More Information about Online Safety. 83

VIII – The Criminal Law.. 84

A.)  Social Networking Crime. 84

1.) Cyberbullying and Extortion.. 84

2.) Parodying. 85

3.) Threats. 85

4.) Crimes and Juvenile Exploits. 86

5.) Child Exploitation and Abduction.. 86

6.) Identity Theft. 87

7.) Posting on a News Group. 88

8.) Copying Emails in Transit. 88

9.) Fraud. 88

IX - Conclusion.89

Appendix. 90