Violation of Privacy?

[whyhate]

I have a friend who has an Instagram, and she self harms and sometimes posts about it, but her school found the account and are making her shut it down or give it away. She isn't mean to anyone, so isn't that a violation of privacy? They can't make her do things with her personal life, can they? It doesn't sound right to me.

[Squid]

Depends on the school. If it's a private boarding school they probably have some custody rights signed by the parents. If it's just your average public school, they can't "make" her shut it down, but they are mandatory reporters for the self harming.

[Patrick B]

So she publicly posts information and you think looking at PUBLIC information is somehow an invasion of privacy?

Am I violating your privacy now by responding to a question you asked in a public forum?

[Mutt]

If she posted it on a billboard along a busy highway, and someone saw it, is that a violation of privacy? No. So why would posting this on Instagram (the "billboard") on the Internet (the "highway") and having the school see it (the "someone") be different?

[Katie]

Apparently they CAN do things with her personal life .. because they have.

Schools are mandated reporters. If she is self harming they are required to report her behavior to CPS.