Highline Public Schools students are required to follow the following guidelines for social media use, in accordance with board Policy 2022, Electronic Resources, and Policy 4309 and Procedure 4309P regarding Social Media.  The District reserves the right to determine if any guideline not appearing in the list below constitutes acceptable or unacceptable social media use.

• State/post only what you want the world to see. Imagine your parents, the teachers, and the administrators visiting your social media.  Once you share something it is likely available after you remove it from the social media site and could remain on the internet permanently.
• How you represent yourself online is an extension of yourself.  Do not misrepresent yourself by using someone else's identity.
• Do not promote illegal drugs, illegal activities, violence, and drinking.
• Be cautious when you use exaggeration, colorful language, guesswork, derogatory remarks, humor, and characterizations. It is difficult for readers to determine the seriousness of the statements/posts.
• Follow the school's code of conduct when writing online.  It is acceptable to disagree with someone else's opinions, however, do it in a respectful way.  Make sure that criticism is constructive and not hurtful.  What is inappropriate in the classroom is inappropriate online.
• Be safe online.  Never give out personal information, including, but not limited to, last names, phone numbers, addresses, exact birthdates, and pictures.  Do not share your password with anyone besides your teachers and parents.
• Run updated malware protection to avoid spyware, adware, spiders, bots, crawlers and other infections that may be placed on your social media site and computer to obtain personal information, breach security, and cause various technology problems.
• Stay informed and cautious for new problems in the use of social media.
• Use good judgment. You are responsible for your own behavior when communicating with social media and will be held accountable for the content of the communications that you state/post on social media locations. You are responsible for complying with the school district's student conduct requirements. Your posts may not disrupt the learning atmosphere, educational programs, and school activities, or infringe on the rights of others.

These guidelines apply to all school district environments, whether the social media site is accessed on school district property or beyond school district property (including but not limited to, at a third-party's contracted property).

Highline School District 401
Adopted by the Superintendent: August 2013
Revised by the Superintendent:  9.14