Things students should never do on Social Media. View the complete article: http://mashable.com/2012/09/04/students-social-media-warnings/

12 Things Students Should Never Do on Social Media

September 4, 2012 by Stephanie Buck
http://mashable.com

The last thing young people want is another set of rules. But these days, social media comes with great responsibility, whether you’re just starting high school or finishing up college.

The fact is, irresponsible social media conduct could potentially ruin your education and negatively impact your career, not to mention hurt others in the process. (And we’re not just talking kids, either.) But most of those consequences are preventable, often with just a little foresight.

We’ve pinpointed 12 social media mistakes that students should avoid at all costs, because after all, it’s never as simple as “be responsible.” And it’s never as finite as “don’t friend your teacher on Facebook.” Social media circumstances are nuanced and vary by situation, school and user.

Please head to the comments below to add your own contributions and advice for young adults on social media.

1. Post Illegal Activities

Granted, high school and college students experiment with many activities and substances. But the second you post a video of last weekend’s bong hit or trash-can tipping adventure, you become vulnerable not only for school expulsion but also for criminal prosecution; in other words, consequences that affect the rest of your life. Even if your profile is set to private, a friend can always download and save incriminating photos that he or the authorities can use against you in the future.

Once or twice per year, perform a thorough review of the information and content accessible on your social media profiles. That way, you’ll be able to locate and remove that photo of your underage keg stand before you apply for your next job.

2. Bullying

Bullying is one of the most serious problems in schools today. Vicious treatment and hateful words between students often lead to violence, suicide, depression and discrimination among the student body.

... don’t assume you can get away with a tweet here and a status update there — many schools have implemented systems that track logins and IP addresses. In other words, you’re on the clock.

When a student turns to social media, blogs or virtually any online space as a forum for hurtful speech, the risks are unmeasurable. Not only does that student face expulsion, but also serious criminal prosecution.

3. Trash Your Teachers

Bullying doesn’t just apply to student-to-student interactions. Students who speak poorly of their teachers (or post embarrassing photos of them) run a huge risk, too. After all, your instructors have a right to privacy and respect.

“Posting a negative comment about any teacher at your school is like getting on a microphone to announce that you will be burning down a bridge,” says Heather Starr Fiedler, associate professor of multimedia at Point Park University. “You never know which one of your professors will hold the keys to the next great internship or job announcement.”

You should even be wary of school or teacher-related posts you think are harmless — you never know whose feelings you’ve accidentally hurt. Dan Farkas, instructor of strategic communication at Ohio University, describes a scenario gone wrong. “I had several students tweet with excitement when I cancelled a class, ready to have a slightly easier Monday,” he says. “What they didn’t know was that I cancelled class to take my wife to the emergency room. It still makes my blood boil.”