ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - The Orange County school district is now monitoring student messages on social media sites in an effort to curb cyberbullying, crime on campus and suicide.
The Orlando Sentinel reports the district has acquired new software that analyzes social media messages from its campuses. The program also allows the district to search messages posted on various sites including Facebook and Twitter for key words that might indicate trouble.
Chief Operations Officer Michael Eugene says the program is aimed at "prevention and early intervention."
School officials acknowledge the online snooping might raise privacy questions. But board member Linda Kobert says the district is taking advantage of "new tools to protect our children."
The district's security staff will monitor messages and worrisome posts will be referred to school administrators or police.
