Ypulse reader Hillary sent me this local piece about high school students mobilizing on Facebook to protest being busted by their school for photos of themselves drinking they posted on Facebook. From the article:

When the school's investigation concluded Wednesday, 42 students had been questioned and 13 disciplined after Internet photos revealed the students partying with alcohol in violation of school rules, administrators said.

Punishments include suspensions from sports and other activities, angering students who think administrators went too far. Some students are planning a walkout after first period this morning, and they're promoting the protest where the controversy began: on Facebook.com.

It reminded me of "the lacrosse incident" at one of the schools I spoke at while on the book tour. Basically the same thing happened, girls on the school lacrosse team posted drinking photos on Facebook (actually the girls were doing keg stands), and the school would not let them play in the championship game. There was a huge outcry...from the parents. Not over the drinking, but over the team missing its big game.

This issue will continue to play itself out in schools, whether it's repercussions (I'm never using that puritanical word consequences again ;-) for photos posted of teens doing something illegal or cyberbullying -- both often happen off of school property. Parents, administrators, teens and ultimately lawyers will begin determining policy for dealing with what is posted from home but can be seen and felt at school.

P.S. My latest piece, "When to turn it off," is up on Beinggirl.com -- for any folks working with tweens/teens, feel free to link to it!

Posted by anastasia