School Technology Policies

After listening to XM Radio recently, I heard an advertisement that piqued
my interest. Apparently, there is a company working to “cash in” on the
warnings around online presence and the fact that it is very, very difficult
to remove internet content once it has been placed in the public domain:
http://www.myreputation.com/

I am not sure how I should feel about this type of company, especially since
they are basically working with clients and, I assume, companies to expose
personal information on the web and then provide clients with a list of
where specific information appears on the web. The company is charging a
significant fee to provide this service, and is a startup company with an
eye on marketing the individual and other companies. It appears that this is
a sideline business that can go out to individuals.

This startup has an interesting niche, that’s true. However, the interesting
thing is that online communities are also moving into a new realm of
interpersonal interactions. For example, one concept recently noted in The
American School Board Journal is “cybersullying”, which is a term that “refers
to electronically imploding one’s own good reputation in the community via
spontaneous or downright silly online deeds.” (Darden, 2009)

Unfortunately, a company such like Reputation Defender, Inc. has no
information on its website on how to prevent people from ruining their own
reputations. It seems to me, especially in the world of education, that this
concept of self-inflicted damage to one’s reputation is the more deeply
systemic issue and should be addressed first.

References:
Darden, E. (2009). ‘Cybersullying’ and You. American School Board Journal,
196(3), 38-39. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.