Thursday, March 22, 2012
Protection of Privacy or Bullying?
Please read the following Inside Higher Ed article about the Tyler Clemente case at Rutgers University. How has social media changed the ability to protect one's privacy? What challenges do schools face in the future with the increased use of social media as a means for communication? Was this case more about invasion of privacy or bullying?
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Social media has severely limited ones ability to protect their own privacy. Even if you are not the one to post something about yourself on the internet, such as a photo or comment, someone else can and anyone with access can see this information, regardless of if you want people to see it. With the increased use of social media, schools face a harder time in protecting student's privacy. Where is the line between one student's right to freedom of speech and one student's right to protect their privacy. This line is very grey and leaves colleges with a huge problem to solve. I believe this case is more a matter of bullying, but it ties into right to privacy with growing social media.
ReplyDeleteSocial media has limited the ability to protect one's privacy. Anyone can post anything about yourself even if you do not consent. Pictures comments can be seen by the world now and you can be linked just by a tag. There is always now a paper trail and it will be very difficult to protect people. I believe that this case was originally aimed at bullying and became an invasion of privacy with the tweets and video being made public. Schools face a challenge because the line between protecting its students and infringing upon their rights of free speech is unclear
ReplyDeleteSocial media has almost made it impossible to have a complete sense of privacy. Since we live in a world where social media is a necessary tool used for networking, it's nearly inescapable. It give people the ability to say things that can bring discredit upon your own reputation and anything that is posted becomes public domain forever. Schools face a tough challenge when trying to regulate student usage of social media, because they don't want to infringe upon students freedom of speech; yet they have to give them a safe environment to learn in. In my opinion, this case was originally targeting bullying, but morphed into a case about both bullying and privacy.
ReplyDeleteThe rutgers case is a truly sad and troubling one. The invasion of privacy found within it-the use of a hidden camera to secretly record another's actions- is hardly a new, as people have been recording others secretly for as long as such technology has existed. What has changed is the ease with which such an invasion can be broadcast to a broad viewing base through the use of social media. It is clear that Ravi took part in bullying. However, it is less clear whether or not the use of social networking in the situation alters or worsens the severity of the offense. Social networking is here to stay, and its true impact upon society has yet to be fully hashed out.
ReplyDeleteThe rise of social media has led to many new problems that have previously not existed. Now,almost everything is readily available as a public event, which leads to very little privacy. That being said, this case was a severe case of disrespect for privacy. The student had a reasonable expectation to carry out his personal life within the confines of his dorm room, and his roommate breached that when he posted the video onto the web. In addition, it was a hate crime because it had to do with outing someone who may have not been ready for it, and persecuting him for it. The roommates actions were unjustifiable and wrong. This case was a needed wake up call to universities to step up their measures against it. It is a shame that a case had to go to this ends to ensure that right to privacy be maintained.
ReplyDeleteSocial media has clearly changed the landscape in school and collegiate atmospheres. One's privacy is put in increased jeopardy due to all the social mediums that now exist: Skype, text message, camera phones, tiny video cameras, etc. However, that serves as no pass for schools to allow this type of behavior to take place in within their institutions. Students must know where to draw the line on this issue. Whether a strict ethics policy is in place or whether constant educational sessions on the topic are given, students must understand what is ok and what is not ok. Clearly, Ravi's posting of the video was and still is on the extreme end of what is not ok, with regards to privacy and pure morals. In my opinion, this case is about both bullying and privacy, equally. Clementi's privacy was violated the instant that Ravi pressed record. Who is Ravi to record his roommate engaging in sexual acts? It is a clear breach of privacy. As if that wasn't enough, to post it on the internet is downright ridiculous and cruel, which takes us to bullying. Ravi had nothing else in mind when posting the video other than the fact he wanted to humiliate his roommate. He probably really didn't even care that his roommate was gay, he just wanted to make his life miserable.
ReplyDeleteThe Rutgers case is truly an omen of things to come. With social media all of ones privacy is gone. Anybody, anywhere can instantly upload a picture, or in this case a movie, and let the world see every excruciating detail of one's life. It is an extremely sad case but it also serves as a warning sign to those who would do likewise to other people.
ReplyDeleteAfter knowing other things about this case besides the article, I believe that this is more an issue of privacy. The issue of privacy in question is not the taping (the room was equally theirs and he had a right to tape it; his reason for doing so seemed to me reasonable, for there was an unknown man coming into his room for an unknown reason), but the showing/ posting of the tapes. Seeing as Ravi has a good friend that is gay and has testified about it, I do not personally believe it was hate crime or anything like that; of course, I'm not the court. It had an element of bullying, for he posted/ showed them, but I believe that it was more privacy. The school can control it as much as they can but there is a limit. It is sad that this young man's life was lost, but there can really be nothing done about what is posted on the internet because people cannot be fully controlled. Sorry this is posted later, I kept getting an error message?
ReplyDeletethe issue with this case is why the camera was faced towards his bed and not towards the boy's stuff? was it necessary to videotape his roommate opposed to confronting him in privacy about the situation. it could have saved the guy's life and the other guy from going to jail. i completely believe that it was bullying because he was targeting his gay roommate and embarrassing him in front of many people.
ReplyDeleteSocial media is revamping the Constitution's definition of privacy and is constantly forcing the Courts to re-determine what is an invasion of privacy and what is not. Seeming how the two guys were roommates, there certainly was a lack of privacy between them, but the question is where does that privacy reach its limit. With social media, no one has privacy. I belive this was a case of bullying because even though it was a private matter to Tyler, the other guy chiose to film it and put it on the internet for no other reason than to probably torment the poor fellow.
ReplyDeleteSocial media has created a world in which privacy is nearly impossible to have. Sites such as Facebook and Twitter make it so easy for people to share information that the convenience and enjoyment outweigh the total lack of privacy. Once something is posted online it is available for the entire world to see, but is it the entire world's right to see it? This case is about bullying through the invasion of his privacy. Ravi tried to use social media to extend his actions far beyond the Rutgers campus, making him a bully who was not afraid to be public about it. Schools face the challenge of drawing the line between infringing on the privacy of others and protecting the safety of the other students.
ReplyDeleteThis case for example is a very sad and truly unfortunate one. The rise of social media has brought about a whole new world of problems for our modern society. As the ability to access and spread information increases, more problems like this case will arise. There was obvious incriminating video of the homosexual student and it was not focusing on the assumption that the roommate was stealing the other roommate's stuff. This was a case of internet bullying and I think that the Rutgers student that tweeted the video should be held completely responsible for the death of his homosexual roommate.
ReplyDeleteThis case is extremely tragic. On the lines of privacy, I find it to be a very sticky situation. Most americans are trying to figure out where bullying protect stops and starts online. In older high school years, you would see kids being picked on and getting pushed into lockers. For our generation, all of the locker shoving happens online on Facebook, twitter or youtube. Obviously, the internet has a great purpose of connecting the world, but at the same time it is destroying many lives. I did not think it was the roommate's right to film the homosexual roommate. It was purely for reasons of blackmail and bullying, and I am very sad that it ended the way it did.
ReplyDelete