Aussie schools banning students from posting pictures of classmates online

Schools in Victoria are banning students from posting photos of their peers online as increasing numbers of students use smartphones and tablets on school grounds.

Students are also being told they must now ask for their classmates’ permission before filming them or taking their photo.

St Kevin’s College’s Junior School Campus in Melbourne is the latest school understood to be telling students not to post pictures of teachers, school buildings or students at sporting events, the Herald Sun reports.

Parents of the students were reportedly asked to sign off on the new rules in February, promising their children would not publish pictures, videos or audio clips of students, sports teams or buildings on school grounds.

The rules also required students to seek permission before filming or photographing their peers.

A newsletter sent home by the school said the rules were instated to make a “safe and secure environment” for the students.

With the rise in popularity of smartphones, tablets and social media cyber safety expert Susan McLean said changes such as these are becoming necessary.

“You can’t rely on kids’ common sense,” she said.

“You do need to have very clear rules.

“Schools are very slowly, unfortunately, coming to the realisation that these sorts of things need to be in policy.”

Education department spokesman Steve Tolley said it was up to each school to develop their own policies on the issue.

“Schools are best placed to decide on how they enforce this,” he said.