Should Principals and Teachers be Active on Social Media?

Today's digital world requires a presence in the digital space. Whether a parent or a professional, you should be active on social media to build your brand. Principals, teachers, and other school staff members should leverage social media to market their school and reach out to their target audience.

However, many schools restrict their staff members from using social media. Are there any valid reasons behind these restrictions? Is it safe for educators to use social media? Let us see if principals and teachers should be active on social media.

Can Schools Limit Teachers' Access to Social Media?

Schools may want to restrict their staff members' access to social media. Principals and teachers being active on social media may not be the reason behind this. Some schools want to secure their computers and networks from any malicious activity. In that case, they can set up a separate network for staff members to access social media. Some institutions may want to restrict their staff members from accessing social media due to privacy concerns.

Students' data protection laws prohibit schools from sharing students' data with third parties. This restriction may apply to social media as well. Schools may also have a brand they want to protect from negative commentary. Principals and teachers being active on social media may influence their students' parents and families, leading to more complaints. As a result, these schools prefer to restrict their employees from using social media.

Principals and teachers might be worried about their staff members being targeted by cyberbullying or being exposed to inappropriate content on social media. Principals might be concerned about the privacy of their students. There are also instances where teachers have abused their social media presence by using it for political or ideological purposes. Admittedly, these valid reasons might be behind the restrictions imposed on principals and teachers. However, there are ways to mitigate these risks.

Why Principals and Teachers Shouldn't be Active on Social Media

• Principals and teachers being active on social media may promote a non-professional image. Schools may receive feedback from parents and guardians that they do not want their children to be influenced by social media. Principals and teachers being active on social media may increase the risk of cyberbullying and trolling. 
• Schools are responsible for protecting all their students from cyberbullying. However, principals and teachers being active on social media may not be able to prevent cyberbullying effectively. This may lead to more cyberbullying incidents among students if the school strongly emphasizes social media.
• Teachers and principals being active on social media may not positively impact the school's brand. The perception of the school may change, and parents may think twice before allowing their kids to attend the institution.

Why Principals and Teachers Should be Active on Social Media

• Teachers and principals being active on social media can help them build their brand as educators. They can connect with their peers from other schools and share their experiences.
• Teachers and principals being active on social media can increase the school's enrollment. They can reach out to their potential students' parents and families to answer the questions and help them make a decision on attending a particular school.
• Teachers and principals being active on social media can lead to more donations and sponsorships for the school. They can ask their followers to donate money to the school. They can also request their followers to sponsor events and activities.
• Teachers and principals being active on social media can promote their school effectively. Principals and teachers can use relevant social media platforms to engage with their target audience. They can publish blogs and articles to spread the word about their school.

The Pros Outweigh the Cons

Schools should not restrict their employees from using social media. While there are drawbacks and potential dangers, the benefits are more than worth it. With the proper guidance, social media can be a positive force for good. The odds are that social media will only become a larger presence in our lives, so it's better to embrace it and make it work for you rather than against you.

Principals and teachers should be focused on their core responsibilities, and social media can be an effective tool to add to their arsenal. They'll be able to communicate easier and build a community, which every school should strive to be.

Written by Roselyn Kati
Education World Contributor
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