When Teachers Monitor Social Media: A Cautionary Tale

Teachers should focus on their primary role of educating and supporting students. However, there are cases where teachers overreach, especially through monitoring students' social media profiles, leading to uncomfortable, unethical, and illegal behavior. This article explores a real-life case of such misconduct at Wright State University and examines the potential implications for students and teachers.

Introduction to Social Media Monitoring in Education

With the proliferation of social media, institutions like schools and universities are increasingly using it to evaluate students and staff. While the intention might be noble, the misuse or overstepping can lead to serious issues. This article delves into a case of harassment caused by unauthorized and inappropriate monitoring of social media profiles.

The Incident: Stalking and Misinterpretation at Wright State University

At Wright State University, specifically the Human Factors Psychology PhD program, the case of inappropriate social media monitoring began with a Facebook profile hack. The events unfolded as follows:

Profile Hacking and Group Name Changes

In the past, the Facebook profile was hacked without the owner's knowledge, leading to the creation of groups with offensive names, such as "Should Polygamy Be Legal and Penetration, Fellatio." These changes masked the owner's true identity, leading to misunderstandings and potential discrimination. Misinterpretation of Online Posts: Faculty members, including Bob Gordon, Marty Gooden, Prof. Robert Gordon, among others, accessed the profile through indirect friends and stalked all activities, misinterpreting posts and photos. This behavior created a toxic, uncomfortable environment for the student.

Sexual Harassment and Misbehavior

During the student's attendance at WSU, sexual harassment was prevalent:

Unwelcome Advances: A cohort, Jason Culbertson, persistently harassed the student with unwanted advances, despite her clear disinterest. Culbertson's behavior bordered on lewd and inappropriate. Public Misconduct: In public settings, Culbertson tried to physically avoid being seen as uninterested. During a ride from a local bar, he made inappropriate jokes, leading to further harassment. Faculty Misconduct: Faculty members like Prof. Robert Gordon commented on the student's online activities, making insensitive and inappropriate remarks. They also engaged in faked grading and mistreatment based on the false information.

Implications and Legal Actions

The case highlights several serious issues:

Harassment: The student felt continually harassed and unsafe during her academic pursuits, leading to her withdrawal from the program. Unlawful Student Stalking: Faculty members engaged in stalking behavior, which is illegal and constitutes harassment. Faked Grading and Misconduct: Misinterpretation of online activity led to unfair treatment and misconduct, affecting the student's academic performance and career prospects.

Conclusion

This case serves as a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of inappropriate social media monitoring by teachers. While schools should ensure the safety and well-being of their students, such actions must be within legal and ethical boundaries. Institutions must establish clear guidelines to prevent misconduct and ensure a safe learning environment for all students.

Keywords: social media monitoring, teacher misconduct, academic harassment, university, faculty misconduct, stalking, misinterpretation, disability