Should Teachers be Banned from Social Media?

This week ABC Action News aired a story uncovering that “Teacher-student relationships begin through texts and social media“.

The instances of teacher-student sexual relationships is frightening and high!

ABC reported that teachers and administrators arrested for sexually assaulting students have been increasing in Tampa Bay. “In Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, and Hernando counties since 2014, we found 17 cases. There were three in 2014, eight in 2015, and six so far this year. Overall Florida has at least 69 cases since 2014.”

While we are sure most teachers use social media for legitimate purposes, such as lawful communication and to connect with family and friends, it’s an indisputable fact that there are teachers out there using social media to prey on innocent children! Is it time we passed legislation to ban teachers from social media or, at minimum, to require teachers register their “internet identifiers”?

Some may argue that those measures would be over-reaching. But if it saves one child…!