The shaming: Creating a curriculum that promotes socially responsible online engagement

Language has often been used to devalue others and the implementation of social media environments has exacerbated the use and visibility of degrading language and imagery. Shaming in online spaces is often different than that in face-to-face environments. Those doing the shaming can hide behind anonymity or create images that are not associated with any one person, but that target a specific person or a group of people. Social media increases the reach and speed of these actions, making it nearly impossible to stop once it is started. Schools have an opportunity to be at the forefront of the movement to combat the mistreatment and abuse of others in technology-based environments by being aware, proactive, and purposeful in how they prepare teachers and students to engage with others. Teachers and students, working collaboratively, can create learning environments including face-to-face and online interactions that involve positive digital citizenship, quality learning, and increasingly advanced communication skills. In this chapter the authors will develop a background demonstrating how technology has been used to shame, share understandings of how this affects those who are being shamed, and construct strategies for reducing shaming practices.