In 2006 there were several cases of students disciplined by schools for activities on social networking sites such as MySpace.com and Facebook.com, among others. Here's a sampling of some of the most interesting incidents and analysis:

  • December 29th, 2006 Teen expelled for rap lyrics reaches $60,000 settlement (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) PA — The Beaver County teen rapper who was expelled from school because of lyrics he posted online has reached a settlement in a related lawsuit he filed against two municipalities. Anthony was expelled from the Riverside Beaver County School District in May 2005 after parents of other students complained that his rap lyrics contained threats.
  • December 19th, 2006 Student Online Expression: What Do the Internet and MySpace Mean for Students' First Amendment Rights? (First Amendment Center)First Forum report by David L. Hudson Jr., First Amendment Center research attorney.
     
  • December 14th, 2006 Manatee libraries block MySpace (Herald Tribune)MANATEE COUNTY, FL — The Manatee County Public Library System, citing the "educational mission" of the libraries, has blocked access to that site, effective Monday. Behavior problems with some who used the computers to access MySpace prompted review of the Internet policy, John Van Berkel, library service manager, said. Administrators looked at the site and decided it did not serve educational purposes. And most MySpace.com users weren't going to the library to check out materials or do research, Van Berkel said.
     
  • November 19, 2006 Student’s Lawsuit Against School – Accused of Viewing Internet Pornography (Texarkana Gazette) DETROIT, TX — The case involving a middle school student accused of accessing Internet pornography has been moved from district court in Red River County to Judge David Folsom’s federal court in Texarkana because of a constitutional rights question. The Detroit Independent School District was granted the request to move the lawsuit because the girl’s attorney, Cameron Lenahan, alleges her Fourth Amendment due process rights guaranteed under the U.S. and Texas constitutions have been violated.
     
  • October 26, 2006 Students, Officials Locking Horns Over Blogs (USA TODAY) School boards across the country already have blocked sites such as MySpace and Facebook on school computers. But school districts now are reaching into students' home computers, severely punishing and even expelling students for what they write on those sites from home.
     
  • September 26, 2006- New York City students subject to new punishments (SPLC) The New York City Department of Education's decision to adopt a more strict punishment for students who express themselves outside of school grounds using the Internet is raising constitutional questions among some free expression advocates.
     
  • August 2, 2006- House Misfires On Internet Safety Last week the House of Representatives passed a well-meaning but ill-conceived piece of Internet safety legislation that could actually make the Internet a more dangerous place for children and teens.
     
  • July 27, 2006- Chat rooms could face expulsion Web sites like Amazon.com and MySpace.com may soon be inaccessible for many people using public terminals at American schools and libraries, thanks to the U.S. House of Representatives.
     
  • July 10, 2006 University lifts Facebook ban for student athletes (SPLC) OHIO – Kent State University has reversed an order that would have required all student athletes at the school to delete their Facebook.com profiles by Aug. 1.
     
  • April 25, 2006 – ACLU Successfully Defends Student's Free Speech Young girl who created fake MySpace profile will go back to school HOLLAND, OH- Today, The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio applauded last night's decision by the Springfield School Board to reinstate eighth grade student Jessica Schoch. Jessica was not allowed to attend school or participate in extra-curricular activities after school officials discovered a MySpace profile that parodied a school administrator.
     
  • April 12, 2006 – University uses MySpace.com profile to expel gay studentA college student expelled Thursday by his university for writing he is gay on his MySpace.com profile has threatened a lawsuit against the school. (Student Press Law Center)


     
  • April 12, 2006 – Seven Parsippany students suspended for MySpace accountsSeven Parsippany High School students were to serve 5-day suspensions for setting up two MySpace.com accounts filled with photos and "vulgarities" about classmates and teachers.


     
  • March 8, 2006 – What you say online could haunt you(USA TODAY)As more and more students turn to websites such as Facebook and MySpace to chronicle their lives and socialize with friends, they also are learning that their words and pictures are reaching way beyond the peers for whom they were intended.


     
  • March 2, 2006 – 20 California Students Suspended Over WebsiteCOSTA MESA, Calif. (AP)- A middle school student faces expulsion for allegedly posting graphic threats against a classmate on the popular MySpace.com Web site, and 20 of his classmates were suspended for viewing the posting, school officials said.