Summary:
Facebook has been under scrutiny by many schools and university with some banning the site temporarily or permanently due to 'inappropriate use' of the platform by the student community. The University of New Mexico (UNM) and Kent State University are two examples of educational institutions having imposed such bans.
Allegations:
- UNM blocked access to Facebook from campus computers and networks, citing unsolicited emails and a similar site called UNM Facebook. In a message to students it wrote, "This site is temporarily unavailable while UNM and the site owners work out procedural issues. The site is in violation of UNM's Acceptable Computer Use Policy for abusing computing resources (e.g., spamming, trademark infringement, etc.). The site forces use of UNM credentials (e.g., NetID or email address) for non-UNM business."
- After controversial photographs of several student-athletes appeared publicly on social networking sites, institutions like the Kent State moved in an aggressive manner, completely banning student athletes from membership on sites like Facebook.
Defence:
- After a UNM user tried to sign into Facebook off campus, a message from Facebook said, "We are working with the UNM administration to lift the block and have explained that it was instituted based on erroneous information, but they have not yet committed to restore your access."
- After Facebook created an encrypted login and displayed a precautionary message to not use university passwords for access, UNM unblocked access to the site the following semester.