[K12OSN] OT: "MySpace.com" or "policies for when computer use leads to assault and battery on campus"

[Petre Scheie]

In my local school, access to MySpace is blocked for this and other reasons.  Of course, 
that doesn't control what the kids do outside of school.

Petre

Steven Santos wrote:
> Slightly off topic, but since I can't think of a group that would know more
> about this...
> 
> A school in the area has been hit with a rash of in school assaults over
> things that have been posted to myspace.com, and specifically things posted
> by students claiming to be other students.
> 
> Case in point, one student was contacted by what he thought was his girl
> friend telling him she had been sexually assaulted by another student.  When
> the girlfriend isn't in school the next day (due to a scheduled ortho
> appointment) the boyfriend proceeds to beat the crap out of the other boy in
> school.
> 
> Further investigation showed the myspace account that sent the message was a
> complete copy of the girlfriends account, with a slight, and unnoticed
> alteration in the username (name1211313 instead of name121313) used to help
> pull off the deception.
> 
> The school has had 5 or 6 other instances not unlike this one over the past
> 60 days where assaults have taken place, and 15 or so that they were able to
> avert. Criminal prosecution in these cases is often difficult, as the person
> committing the actual assault is often also a victim, and tracking down who
> is behind it is proving to be almost impossible. I should also note that the
> myspace postings are taking place off school grounds.
> 
> What policies and procedures do people have in place, or could your
> recommend to deal with these types of issues?
> 
> 
> 
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