MySpace Can Be Our Space

Let’s turn the infamous networking site into a teachable moment

By Christopher Harris -- School Library Journal, 5/1/2006

I’m sure that the headlines and their dire warnings about cyberstalkers help sell papers and convince TV viewers to stay tuned to hear about the latest threat to their children, but this whole MySpace ban needs to stop.

After all, the social networking Web site that is all the rage among teens, is, as Kevin Poulsen explained in a February 2006 Wired magazine article, TheirSpace not OurSpace. Adults just don’t get it. At first glance, as Poulsen writes, “a typical [MySpace] page is a near perfect reflection of the chaos and passion of youth: a music-filled space, rudely splattered with photos and covered in barely-legible prose.” Add to that reports of sexual predators prowling the site, and no wonder there’s been a crackdown on MySpace at schools across the country.

Recent Internet history, however, suggests this may not be the best approach. When music piracy became the big problem a few years ago, suing Napster out of existence sure put a stop to music downloading, didn’t it?

A more effective approach is to utilize MySpace as a teaching tool. These lessons can be embedded into a variety of classes and subjects.

Art. Perhaps the greatest concern about MySpace involves its role as a public gallery for posting pictures. Art teachers can take this opportunity to spark a dialogue on what is appropriate imagery for public and private display. (Though certainly the inclusion of pictures that portray illegal or sexually explicit acts isn’t up for debate.) And there are some wonderful examples of photography on the Web site that showcase truly inspired work by young artists. Highlighting such positive examples and inviting student debate and discussion can encourage appropriate use of the site. Students also need to understand that pictures they think are OK may be scandalous to adults, including college admissions personnel or potential employers.

Social Studies. Many schools have taken issue with MySpace over online threats of violence and other hate speech. Related discussions—appropriate for social studies classrooms—could focus on the pertinent protections and limitations of the free speech clause of the First Amendment. According to legal precedent, threats of violence or harm are one of the few types of speech not protected by the Constitution.

In addition, a New York case established that students who engage in such speech, even if they do it outside of school, can be punished by the school if they “endanger the health or safety of pupils within the educational system or adversely affect the educative process” (Coghlan v. Board of Education, 262 AD2d 949 [4th Dept 1999]). It will be interesting to see how recent cases involving MySpace, and similar Web sites, address this issue.

Music: And then there’s the issue of copyright infringment. Many youngsters have adapted protected works, such as music and song lyrics, onto their personal MySpace pages. (Ironically enough, MySpace was founded, in part, to help musicians connect with their audience.) Here, music teachers could empower students by helping them become content creators, who share original material rather than simply duplicate the work of others.

In the end, schools need to face the music and tune in to MySpace. If districts simply block access to these sites and fail to address the issues surrounding online communities and digital personas, then it is unjust for schools to punish students for their online actions. As educators begin talking to students about these issues, however, I hope they will address the dangers, while also sharing the great potential of these sites.

MySpace and other social networking sites are among the fastest growing areas of the Internet. It is unreasonable to think that they’ll simply go away. Our best bet is to become part of the conversation and help youngsters make good, safe decisions, as they join the online community.