Social media is extremely popular with students, whether it’s Instagram, Snapchat, or even Tik Tok. But unfortunately, it gets misused at times. College Place Middle School has many different online pages about various topics. From our Vice Principal’s fan page to the CPM shoe game account, we pretty much have it all. Although the pages can bring lots of joy and laughter to students, there are also pages that take things too far and violate the privacy of our peers.

For example, the account titled, “The Mr. Shaw fan page” is filled with fun photos of our beloved vice principal, Mr. Shaw. While it is true that the page provides positive comments about Mr. Shaw, students are taking photos of Mr. Shaw without his permission. Similarly, the CPM shoe game account features students’ shoes and rates them, providing both negative and positive comments about students’ footwear. Those making the accounts and commenting on their posts don’t always realize that some students can’t afford different shoes. If they are getting a lower ranking because they don’t have “cool” or “popular” shoes, that can be extremely hurtful. “Students don’t think very deeply about the message their social media posts send that may be in direct contrast to what they think their values are.” -Ms. Garrison (Journalism teacher)  Although some accounts are fun, some are violating students’ privacy on a very high level. 

As the school year has gone by, more accounts have been created. Instagram is popular and is a public app that many students and adults have access to. Certain accounts are less intense than others. “CPM exposed” is an example of where these Instagram accounts were taken too far and have the potential of hurting many students. 

“I think sleeping pages are positive; they are funny,” 8th grader Natan Ghebreamlak says. After we asked if taking photos of people without their permission was okay, Natan replied, “No, well it depends, if it’s someone you know or you’re close with it’s fine. If it’s just like a random person, no.”

Not only are students being featured on Instagram pages, but so are our staff members. Including CPM’s vice-principal Henry Shaw. Although Mr. Shaw does not view his own pages as a problem, he does not like certain pages, as in “CPM exposing.” As we showed him the fan page himself he said “I’m not worthy of these accolades, I am just a regular guy.”

However when asked about his feelings towards “CPM exposing” he claimed, “I can’t stand it, but it’s not unique to CPM.”  Unfortunately, Mr. Shaw is correct; many schools, including the ones in our area, have various Instagram/TikTok accounts involving their schools. 

After doing some more research and reading the article Can students take pictures of others while at school by Mike Hiestand (Student Press Law Center), we were able to get other schools’ opinions. The article states that there are places where photography is more appropriate than at other times. In an article written by Mike Hiestand regarding a similar topic he says, “a crowded school hallway or lunchroom, the school parking lot or stadium at a football game — where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy and photos would be lawful”.  However, when you take a picture of one singular student and then post them online, that is a whole different story. 

Mr. Jaimes says, “I can not speak for the students who do the negative Instagram pages, but when we find out about them, we let their parents know and have it taken down.”

Our final interview was with our Principle Andrea Collins. After asking her what the official law is against students photographing and posting other students she responded with, “No there is not…I communicated with the communications department through the school district and we are a public entity, so it’s like taking pictures at a concert.”

To summarize, there is no law against people taking pictures of others without their consent, only because the school is a public place. Sure it may be rude, but there is no true law against it. Posting a student’s picture without permission can be considered; however, rude or unnecessary comments about that person or their appearance are what crosses the line.