Finale Friday to #scandal Week
All week long we've discussed #scandal, and I feel like we could probably go on for another week! As a teen library services specialist, I've had idea after idea of when and how I could use this book in teen programs or book displays. #scandal has so very many great talking points about social media and it's safe use. If this book was set in the 1980s or earlier, it would be a much different story! I kind of live-tweeted my reading of the book (search for ##scandal on Twitter to find them) and at one point I mused about whether the teens would have been so mean without Facebook. My professor replied that she guessed they wouldn't- that people are much meaner behind virtual walls. So true! Here are a few key ideas addressed in the book that would make great discussion points with teens:
Addiction: The characters in #scandal are totally addicted to their devices and social media presences. They're on them all the time. To me, the most appalling example of this is when the principal checks her Facebook account during a student conference and replies to a Facebook message! At prom, the teens are more interested in taking photos and creating posts than they are in enjoying their last school dance.
""Most of them will have to check their Facebook status tomorrow to see if they had fun," I say."
Digital Citizenship: #scandal is a great starting point for discussing digital citizenship. This includes how to be a responsible and well-behaved online. Unlike in the real world, there isn't necessarily laws governing all behavior online. Kids and teens need to be taught the social mores and ethics of the internet. For example, just because you can post something (maybe something mean?) online anonymously doesn't mean that you should. My sister-in-law has a sign in her kitchen to remind her kids how to T.H.I.N.K. before speaking, and it applies to internet "speaking" too: is what you're about to post truthful or hurtful? Is it inspiring? Is it necessary? Is it kind? If only the Lavender Oaks High kids knew that acronym! You have to watch out for each other out there in cyberspace; it's like the Wild West!
""Facebook is, like, twice the friends and half the effort.""
Cyberbullying: This is the crux of the plot of the whole book! First Lucy is framed for cyberbullying when the original #scandal photos are posted to her Facebook page, then her classmates retaliate with the creation of the Juicy Lucy "fan" page on Facebook. (I put "fan" in quotes since the whole page is hateful.) As I mentioned above, it seems very easy for people to be demeaning and cruel online, where they don't have to look their victim in the eyes. It's important to always remember that the screen names we interact with online are real people in the real world too.
I hope everyone has enjoyed this #scandal week! I know this book kept me fascinated while also driving home the importance of responsible digital citizenship. I'd love to recommend this book to teens and get that word out there!
*Quotes in italics are taken directly from the book #scandal by Sarah Ockler.