[K12OSN] OT: "MySpace.com" or "policies for when computer use leads to assaul

[David Trask]

We block it here at school, but also due to issues similar to what you
describe (on a much lesser scale) we are hosting an information night for
parents to show them what it is and how to deal with it.  We have a local
law enforcement cybercrimes officer attending as well.

"Support list for opensource software in schools." <k12osn at redhat.com> on
Tuesday, January 24, 2006 at 9:10 AM +0000 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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David N. Trask
Technology Teacher/Director
Vassalboro Community School
dtrask at vcsvikings.org
(207)923-3100