Social Media Best Practices for Students

Please keep these tips in mind when using social media to communicate with FCPS.

When using social media to interact with Fairfax County public schools, offices, or staff, students are expected to exercise appropriate conduct just as they would offline. Here are some recommendations to keep in mind:

  • Please be polite. Treat people the way you would want to be treated.
  • Profanity and racial or ethnic slurs are never acceptable, nor is vulgar media (photos, gifs, videos, etc.).
  • There is no need to shout. Avoid using all capital letters and/or numerous exclamation points in your messages.
  • Do not tag @fcpsnews on tweets to friends that contain vulgar or unacceptable language.
  • If you wouldn't want your family, principal, or your entire school to see your tweet or post, then don't share it. Once it's online, you can't take it back.
  • Be truthful. For example, if you didn't witness an accident, if you're not a victim of a crime, if your bus was not an hour late, please do not tell us that these situations occurred.
  • The FCPS Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram feeds are not monitored 24/7. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call or text 988, or dial 911. If you witness something inappropriate on- or offline, tell your teacher, principal, parent, or another trusted adult immediately.
  • Be yourself. Don't represent yourself as another person when communicating with us or anyone else. Creating fake FCPS social media accounts is not acceptable either.

School administrators may be notified if a student conducts him- or herself inappropriately when communicating with the school division via social media. Administrators and/or other FCPS staff may be notified if it appears that a student may be in crisis.

For more information about student expectations and potential consequences for inappropriate conduct, please refer to FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities.