Yesterday EBISD received information about a new social media app App "Yik Yak." After looking into the app, EBISD has come to these conclusions:
· Yes, Yik Yak, will be banned from use during school hours, and will be blocked on the EBISD networks.
· We have requested a "Geo Fence" from the makers of the program. This will block users of the app from making posts in a certain area around the school, even if they are on their cellphones data connections. This will not stop them from posting outside of school
EBISD would like to ask parents to talk to their children about cyberbulling, and keep an eye out for the app on their child's phone, as this App has been used as a platform for cyberbullying. Once the Geo Fence is in place at EBISD, the app will be useless on the EBISD campuses, even on the phones data connection.
EBISD would like to remind everyone that EBISD policies state that cell phones can be used in the classroom in support of learning, and that this kind of social media usage is still against our policies. If you catch a student not following the rules of the BYOD/AUP policies, then the phone will be taken up by the campus principal.
If you have any questions regarding EBISD policies regarding cell phone usage, please contact EBISD.
Here is a link to the Today Show feature on the app for a bit of background on the app: http://goo.gl/cnX8p4
