Pupils at a Somerset school are now being given lessons in social media and how to use it in a safe and legal manner. Lessons about using the internet and social media usually fall within the Personal, Social, Health and Economic part of the curriculum. However, one private school in Taunton has realised that pupils are at risk of being sued following the recent Lord McAlpine case, and has made the decision to include the basics of libel.
The scheme has been offered to pupils in year nine at the school, although the lessons may be made available to older children eventually. According to one senior teacher, Carol Manley, the lessons were initially introduced to show pupils how to stay safe while using the internet and social media. As the teachers became aware of the dangers of social media, like parties on Facebook, the lessons have included the potential pitfalls. Although Manley admits that celebrities tweeting something which is incorrect and facing a lawsuit is something most people won’t face, she also states that the lessons teach children that even a joke can turn into a person being sued.
The school has provided a series of lectures from experts for its pupils, and has teachers that are dedicated to giving PSHE lessons. Libel is also a subject which has to be considered by search engine optimisation experts, as a SEO campaign utilises social media sites on a regular basis. Individuals with SEO careers are likely to be knowledgeable concerning defamation and libel.
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