Many students and instructors are active on social media. Using them in your role as a GSI presents new questions. Below is a brief FAQ. Additionally, there are some concerns about using non-University servers for student course work (see Using Third-Party Technology).

Is there a University policy about engaging with students on social media?
No — but there have been discussions and concerns. While the University does not have an explicit policy regarding the use of social media in teaching, the GSI Teaching & Resource Center urges GSIs to conduct class business using bCourses rather than social media, to minimize the chance of crossing appropriate professional boundaries and to ensure equal access to instructional communication.

What’s wrong with following students on an app or accepting a follow request?
When an instructor interacts with students over social media, the instructor will likely see information private to their profiles and vice versa. Such information may in turn bias the GSI’s view of the student and unconsciously affect the evaluation or treatment of students. Even when permissions are set in such a way as to prevent the disclosure of personal information, following students may affect a GSI’s rapport with other students in the class. In addition, requesting to follow your students can make them feel uneasy.

For legitimate reasons, students may opt out of engaging with you on social media. If you then decide to communicate with the other students through the app or simply to accept invitations to be friends with whoever invites you, you may be setting up a situation of unequal access to course material.

Is it okay to follow students once the semester is over?
Some instructors tell students that they will accept follow requests after the semester is over. If there is the slightest chance that you may be asked to evaluate the work of the student in the future (e.g., in a letter of recommendation or another class in which you will be the GSI), we recommend that you not connect with students over social media even after the semester is over.

If you do friend students on an app after you have submitted final grades, it is still important to pay attention to the kinds of information about you that are available to your former students. You should take care in adjusting your profile privacy settings to block students from seeing any photos or information that you would not share in a professional relationship. It is sometimes worth asking a friend if you can look at your profile from their account to see what information is visible.

How can I prevent the awkward situation of having to turn down a student’s follow request?
As a GSI, it’s a part of your duties to maintain professional boundaries, so it is fine to tell students that you simply don’t accept requests. If you prefer to address this concern ahead of time, you can make your social media policy explicit at the beginning of the semester. On your section syllabus you might include something like the following: “In order to maintain professional relationships with students, I do not accept follow requests on Instagram or TikTok from any student in my class. Communication about course-related matters will be done via bCourses or email.” You should also include your email policies.

What happens if a student who is your friend on social media ends up in your class?
If a friend enrolls in your section, you should ask for the student to be transferred to another section so that there will not be a conflict of interest. Similarly, if you have a personal relationship with someone through Instagram, TikTok, etc., you should recuse yourself from having authority over their work. Being “friends” with some students and not others may give the appearance of, or may lead to, favoritism.

What precautions will you take to ensure that you engage in professional behavior on social media?
If you do become friends with former or current students on social media, you should not use the app to talk about course-related duties, complain about your sections or students, talk about the professor/instructor of record, or make comments about your department more generally. Don’t post pictures of yourself or information about yourself that you do not want others to see. Keep in mind that if postings on a social media profile become public, they may have an impact on your professional life in the future.