Norms and Responsibilities

        I think that our norms and responsibilities are simply behind the technology.  When the internet was first widely available, (circa mid 90s is my reference point), it was widely seen as this anonymous playground.  People could post whatever they wanted whenever they wanted, and didn't expect real world consequences because they were saying something virtually.  I think there was a mindset that virtual "wasn't real".  Our laws are slowly catching up to the technology so now people can be fired for something they say online.  There are many examples of this that be looked up.  A joke posted to Facebook or Twitter can have very real consequences.  
     Using a basic concept like conversation as an example,  our discourse online should reflect how be behave in a person-to-person interaction.  The farther we are removed from person-to-person interaction, the less civil we become.  Think about a disagreement with a person in the same room, vs the same disagreement over the phone,  and then a step further :  disagreement on a social media platform.  
     Social media simply gives bullies another avenue to do what they do.  If anything, behavior online is worse because a student could be tormenting another student without even being in the same building.  If students don't tell an adult, and adults aren't monitoring whatever social media platform it is occurring on, the adults are left in the dark.  
     All of the negatives we post are permanent.  We need to tell students this.  A bully might outgrow their behavior, but all of the things they have posted will likely follow them around forever.  Would an employer want to hire somebody if that person will create a hostile work environment?   We need to promote the same behavior in online interactions that we expect in the physical world.  Another good tip for students and adults alike is to never post anything while you're angry.  Long after the anger is gone everything that was said online is still there.