'Friending' students

​Adding or accepting a student to a personal social networking site as a ‘friend’

Teacher E uses a popular social networking site to socialise and stay in contact with family and friends all over the world. She has 112 friends, all of whom she has known throughout some stage of her life – primary school, secondary school, part-time jobs, university.

In her position as the wellbeing coordinator she often meets with disengaged and/or disadvantaged young people that are hesitant to speak face-to-face. Some of these students have ‘friend requested’ her on her personal social networking page. She accepts them as she believes this may be an easier way for these students to communicate with her.

In terms of your professional practice consider:

  • While teachers can be friendly with students their relationship must always remain professional and should never be on a personal footing.

The Department recommends:

  • employees in schools do not add or accept a student to a personal social networking site as a ‘friend’.