Social Media Blog

I chose this article because it was complicated in its irony. Students at North Penn High School organized a walkout during school hours to protest the inappropriate content other students were posting on social media cites. Several students were the victims of harassment sparked by the inappropriate images being plastered all over social media. Students used social media to organize their walkout, which was supposed to be a silent protest to stand in solidarity with those who have been harassed. The students were not doing it as retaliation against the school but instead were doing it for the victims who were afraid to come to school. In addition, the students wanted to protest their dissatisfaction with how the district was handling the situation. It was made clear that leaving school during hours was against school rules and consequences would be enforced.

Throughout this article I was exposed to how social media can be used as a means to bully, taunt and tease others. With the endless possibilities of Photoshop and the Internet, bullying has been taken to whole other level. In addition, once something goes online it’s there permanently.  It isn’t like traditional bullying that would happen on the playground anymore; social media has mobilized and expanded the range of bullying. Social media is a very dangerous weapon in this day and age. It is easily accessible, easily spread and immensely popular. Once something goes viral it’s done.

However, I did also find an interesting spin when the students decided they were going to use social media as a means to organize a protest against the inappropriate use of social media. They took the same weapon that was causing the problems and turned it into a tool. Yes leaving school is against the rules, but for these students this is more than simply a matter of detention or suspension; it is standing up for those who weren’t able to stand up for themselves. It is telling the district they need to take action because they won’t stand for this any longer, they are cleaning up their social media.