Educational institutions may use social media only if there are clear agreements about what happens to student and employee data. Is it not possible to make such agreements with social media companies? Then schools had better not use the social media platform in question. This is according to an opinion of the Personal Data Authority (AP) published on June 13, 2024.
Read the opinion of the Personal Data Authority
In line with this, Kennisnet and SIVON advise schools to reconsider the use of social media and to be cautious about posting personal data and images on social media. In practice, it will be difficult to request and obtain proper consent from students and staff. Also, asking permission from parents and students will encounter resistance because social media companies use personal data for commercial purposes.
It will be difficult for schools to make concrete agreements with social media companies. Moreover, it remains to be seen whether those companies that use personal data for their own commercial purposes, such as marketing and profiling the target audience, are willing and able to comply with these agreements.
In an extensive article on the website of Kennisnet and SIVON, you can read what the AP advice means in practice for schools and how to deal with it. Do you have questions about using social media in response to the advice from Kennisnet and SIVON? Please contact us via ibp@kennisnet.nl.
