Within the past decade, social media networks and websites have grown rapidly and continue to expand each day. It started with adolescents connecting with friends, getting the down low on who’s dating whom, and sharing your life with the world. But now, parents, teachers, and even the elderly are using these seemingly innocent social networks. The networks have posed new problems to the legal system and schools such as the question: should teachers be allowed to electronically communicate privately with their students?

Recently, a new law called the Amy Hestir Student Protection Act, was passed in Missouri in order to protect children from sexual predators at school. The law prohibits teachers from contacting their students through electronic communications, such as text messaging or certain Facebook posts, that are unable to be seen by others.

Also, section 162.069.4 of the law prohibits teachers from creating or using a “non-work-related Internet site which allows exclusive access with a current or former student.”

In the Amy Hestir case, Hestir and her teacher had a sexual relationship for over a year. It was when Hestir decided and tried to end the relationship when her teacher raped her. This new law is taking steps to avoid these kinds of life-scarring experiences from happening which is clearly a positive action.

The thing is, Hestir and her teacher had this relationship over 20 years ago when social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Gmail did not even exist. It is only now that Hestir decided to come forward with her story. This law interferes with teachers’ First Amendment right to freedom of speech and has already had a preliminary injunction issued by a Missouri judge.

The law seems too controlling over teachers. If teachers are being restricted, then why aren’t the students?  It takes two to tango.

Teachers having a Twitter or a Facebook page can also be extremely helpful to their students in certain ways.  The teacher can notify their students of an upcoming quiz or what pages they should read to prepare for the next day of class.  Obviously, teenagers these days check their Facebook and Twitter accounts tons more than say their email or a school agenda.

This new law could be a great law, or it could be too controlling.  Perhaps if the law did not restrict teachers’ personal lives as much, then the Amy Hestir Student Protection Act could be non controversial and especially beneficial to protect students from sexual predators.