Social media etiquette refers to 

the guidelines that companies and individuals use to

preserve their reputation online. ... Just as social etiquette dictates how people behave
around others in the real world, social media etiquette revolves around online guidelines to
follow. As
a teacher it is important to figure out where the line is in
terms of social media. Your social media accounts can make you
a more inspirational teacher and a better colleague. But they can
also make you the focus of a personnel investigation or
unemployed. Use them wisely. Here—the dos and don’ts of
social media for teachers. 

Do stay in contact with your students through the power

of texts.
The fact that virtually every student now carries a phone offers a real
opportunity for improving their academic performance. Reminders
about due dates, answers to questions about homework, and tips sent out
the night before a big test are all wonderful ways to use texts to help
students. Always do this through some professional third-party app like
Remind.
Don’t connect directly with students.
This seems, perhaps, too obvious for words. Still, there are always
stories of teachers who have gotten themselves in trouble by being too
friendly. Never give a kid your personal cell number in order to text
each other, no matter how good your intentions are. And do not follow a
student’s social media account. Refrain from commenting on something
a student has posted online unless it is explicitly an academic
assignment.
Do follow colleagues you know, respect and like.
Like any job, having some social connections to your peers can really
help improve both your work environment and your collaboration with
colleagues. Teaching can be an isolating profession as we all disappear
into our separate rooms. Knowing when a fellow teacher has cause to
celebrate or did something amazing offers the opportunity to become
part of that celebration and connect. Social media is great for that.
Don’t follow colleagues you don’t know, don’t respect or
don’t like.
If they are not someone you know, you are now a troll. And if they are
not someone you respect, you are now associated with them anyway.
Additionally, if you don’t get along, you are going to be tempted to be
snarky. Better left alone.
Do show what you are proud of.
I have always had a passion for photography and use my Instagram
account (@jeremy.knoll) to share the images I create with the world.
Many of my students follow me and it gives them some insight into who
I am beyond the classroom. I never post anything personal, controversial
or inappropriate. Just beautiful pictures.
Don’t share personal pictures or tag other teachers.
No booze. No beach pics. If any of your social media platforms are open
to the public, you need to realize that students and parents will be
checking them out. Sharing personal information is generally a bad idea.
Tagging fellow teachers is a terrible idea. If other teachers want to share
something, leave it to them.
Do encourage students to make the most of their social
media accounts.
Snapchat is the perfect example. Lots of students use Snapchat as an
exercise in being a self-centered and vacuous teenager—all duck lips
and pouty faces. Others use it to post pics of things that should remain
private. There is another option: Snapchat can be a platform for some
really creative storytelling. By using that platform as the foundation for
a class assignment, we can show them there is more to social media than
selfies.
Don’t use social media to tell stories that don’t reflect
well on you or your profession.
Facebook is a place where too many teachers complain about students,
administrators or inexplicably the hours they have to work. In today’s
environment especially, teachers are dealing with a PR crisis. With
public schools under attack from politicians who want to privatize
education, the only narrative coming from us should be one of caring for
kids, loving our craft and working hard.
Do talk to your students about the ramifications of their
social posting.
Actively search for teachable moments when you can bring the concept
of responsible social media into your lessons. Sharing articles you find
about employers scanning the social media accounts of prospective
employees, discussing the permanence of social posts and how they can
haunt you are lessons kids need to hear early and often.
Don’t post during school hours.
We are all being paid to prepare lessons, teach and grade. We are being
paid with our community’s tax dollars. It sends a bad message when a
parent who is helping to pay our salaries sees that we are spending our
time taking selfies, promoting our own fitness blogs, or tweeting about
the new Coach bag we just found on sale. Socialize during social hours.
Work during work hours.