Social media attacks on educators are nothing new. Students have regularly used TikTok to impersonate and troll their least favorite teachers. But a recent attack against multiple teachers at one school took online educator harassment to a new level. The incident calls attention to the fact that educators need to protect themselves online.

The Lento Law Firm Team understands the impact online harassment can have on teachers. If you're dealing with a social media attack or you want to protect yourself online, we can help. Reach out to us at 888-535-3686 or complete our confidential online form, and we'll get in touch.

Middle Schoolers Target Teachers

The issue began earlier this year when a teacher at Great Valley Middle School in Malvern, Pennsylvania, learned someone had created a fake TikTok account in her name. Soon after, other teachers discovered fake accounts in their names, and those accounts had racist and homophobic memes, as well as insinuations that they'd engaged in pedophilia and sexual hookups.

The school district took swift action, but its victims are still shaken. Educators face plenty of challenges in the classroom, and online attacks threaten hard-won reputations. Teachers may hesitate to issue reprimands or bad grades out of fear of retribution.

For many other educators, the incident brings questions to mind. How can a social media attack hurt teachers, and what can they do to protect themselves?

Social Media Attacks and Teachers

While teachers certainly have the right to post on social media, the National Education Association recommends they avoid offensive posts. If a post erodes the trust students and their parents have in educators, it can “disrupt the school environment,” which can result in disciplinary action and even termination.

Depending on the quality of the phony account, the public will likely assume the educator created it. This is especially true on platforms like TikTok, where a large number of teachers don't have profiles. In the Pennsylvania case, one of the teachers had to create an account simply to see the information posted about her.

Teachers aren't the only ones, either. Professionals across all fields stand to be hacked or cloned online, whether the attacker is an unhappy student, a disgruntled former employee, a competitor, or an angry customer. For those who hold professional licenses, these types of attacks can put more than a job at risk. It can also impact your ability to work for any employer.

Guidance from the Lento Law Firm

If online content has put your career at risk, the right legal counsel can help. The Lento Law Firm Team regularly works with educators whose jobs are at risk due to social media content. Whether you're dealing with your school faculty or facing off against the local school board, our legal team can give you the advice and one-on-one help you need.

To get in touch with the Lento Law Firm, call 888-535-3686. You can also complete our confidential online form to get a callback from a skilled member of our team.