Facebook Facepalm

It's time to do a massive Facebook friend-purge, Missouri teachers. A new bill signed into law by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon makes it illegal for students and teachers within the state to have private relationships on Facebook.

We should note that the new law isn't targeting Facebook exclusively–or even social networks. The entire point of the legislation centers on curbing sexual misconduct between teachers and students. The "Amy Hestir Student Protection Act," named for a former Missouri public school student who was molested by a teacher decades prior, increases penalties for school districts that fail to report abuse allegations within a timely manner and fail to disclose instances of past abuse by former staff members.

Steps to protect kids from predators is great if it makes sense (for example, mandated reporting).  The Facebook restriction is stupid.  Facebook is a communication tool, and laws should not be used to replace good parenting or good judgment.  If parents want to see what their kids are doing on Facebook they (theoretically) have the right to check it out.  Just because some parents find it uncomfortable or unpleasant to monitor their kids and their activities does not make it appropriate to restrict communication.  This is like saying thou shalt not use Yahoo messenger or email, as Facebook is just a slight step away from those services. Meanwhile, thousands of healthy and productive interactions are hindered by good old Jay Nixon.  We should be grateful, really, that he is willing to step in and save us from ourselves. 


In Jay's honor (though he will not be alone for long) a new tag is created: Jackass.