The document discusses the prevalence of cyberbullying on social media, highlighting its severe impact on students, including threats and suicidal tendencies. It reviews several legal cases related to free speech and related rights in educational contexts, emphasizing how institutions have upheld policies to limit harmful online behavior. The document concludes with recommendations for education on responsible social media use to combat cyberbullying based on a New Jersey bill aimed at increasing student awareness of the consequences of such actions.

1. Student Speech and Cyber
Bullying on Social Media
By: Lexi Smith and Therese Boutwell

2. Think about it..
Raise your hand if you have
ever came across something
in your timeline that was
offensive, or that could be
categorized as bullying,
posted by one of your peers

3. Issues with Students Cyberbullying on Social Media
Social media is used by billions of people worldwide.
Facebook, one of the most popular social media sites, has
approximately 500 new accounts created every minute and
on average, around 5,000 links are shared per minute every
single day.
This is just one example of how large of an impact being
apart of social media can have on your life.
Communication through these outlets are sometimes unreliable
but regardless of the information being spread, the demand
of the use for social media is only continuously increasin
“You are a bad person and everyone hates you. Have a shitty rest of
your life. The world is a better place without you,”
Online messages such as this one, which led to Megan Meier to commit suicide in 2006, are insanely
common among adolescent and teenage students, and over half of students have been a victim of online
bullying, more than a third have been threatened online, and over fourteen percent have contemplated
taking their own lives as a result.

4. The Cyber Bullying Virus
The Cyber Bullying Virus

5. Yoder v. University of Louisville
Plaintiff Nina Yoder
former student at the University of Louisville's School of Nursing (SON)
University and University employees, Ermalynn Kiehl and Marcia Hern
First Amendment rights to free speech and Fourteenth Amendment rights to due
process
She appealed her dismissal from the SON for a blog post on her MySpace page
discussed various aspects of a birth that she witnessed while at SON
discussed several medical, personal, and employment-related pieces of
information
Led to dismissal of the school
Yoder asserted that the Honor Statement, Confidentiality Agreement, and Consent
Form were unconstitutionally overbroad, and that the Consent Form was
unconstitutionally vague.
The policies that she signed as part of the SON program were proven to be valid
and easily understood.
Overall, the courts grant of summary judgement in this case was affirmed.

6. Tatro v. University of Miami
Appellant, Amanda Tatro, a junior in the Mortuary Science Program at respondent
University of Minnesota
argued that the University violated her free speech rights under the United
States and Minnesota Constitutions by disciplining her for her Facebook post
privilege of access to human cadavers was violated
"Whether a public university violates constitutional free speech rights by
disciplining a student for Facebook posts that contain satirical commentary and
violent fantasy about her school experience but do not identify or threaten
anyone."
Anatomy Bequest Program Human Anatomy Access Orientation Disclosure Form
signed by Tatro
the findings of the CCSB were affirmed, as well as the sanctions imposed
Tatro's Facebook posts were disrespectful and unprofessional.

7. Murakowski v. University of Delaware
Plaintiff and student, Maciej Murakowski filed against defendant, University of Delaware
alleged violation of his rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
In June 2005, Murajowski established a website using the University's server
contained multiple essays authored by him addressing a variety of topics
Some of those topics reference violence and sexual abuse
Due process
Cynthia Cummings, the Associate Vice President for Student Life, called an
immediate meeting with Murakowski
Disruptive Conduct, Failure to Comply and violating the Responsible Computing
Policy
The Appellate Board upheld the hearing officer's decision, including the imposition
of the sanctions and denied Murakowski's appeal.
Freedom of Speech
"is not absolute at all times and under all circumstances."
True threats
Murakowski’s initial motion was denied in part, regarding the Fourteenth Amendment
claim, and granted in part, as to the First Amendment claim.

8. Best Strategy to Reduce Student Cyberbullying on Social
Media in the future
Educate Students
New Jersey has recently adopted a bill that requires school districts to teach middle school students how to use
social media responsibly as part of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Technology.
The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act, which explicitly includes electronic communication within its scope,
applying programs similar to that in New Jersey could increase the students’ knowledge and
understanding of what cyberbullying is, as well as the legal, social, and mental long-term consequences
of students cyberbullying on social media:
1. The legal consequences and penalties for creating, sharing and liking acts of cyberbullying
against other students, including applicable federal and State statutes
2. The non-legal consequences for creating, sharing and liking acts of cyberbullying against
other students including, but not limited to, the effect on relationships, loss of educational
and employment opportunities, and being barred or removed from school programs and
extracurricular activities
3. The potential, based on the unique characteristics of cyberspace and the Internet, of long-
term and unforeseen consequences and emotional damage that can occur as a result of
cyberbullying
4. The possible connection between students and cyber-bullying on social media and its effect on
teens as posts quickly and rapidly disseminate across a large audience-- once its posted its
available forever

9. Think Before You Post

10. Activity
What do you like and share on social media?