• WCBSTV.com, Friday, April 30, 2010 1:48 PM

Slamming social networks as nothing more than tools for "cyber-bullying," the principal of one New Jersey middle school is asking parents to join a voluntary ban on the popular services. "Rumors used to be some mean girl says something in the hall, but now it's out there for the whole world to look at," Anthony Orsini, the principal at Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Ridgewood, NJ told CBS 2. Meanwhile, Meredith Wearly, the school's guidance counselor, told the TV station that about 75% of her day is now spent dealing with social networking issues with students. Principal Orsini said the reaction from parents has been generally positive.

The students, however, are less than enthusiastic about the proposed ban. At a time when people increasingly rely on social networks for everything from professional contacts to personal relationships, couldn't one argue that digital socialization has become a vital life skill? Not according to Principal Orsini. There is absolutely, positively no reason for any middle school student to be a part of a social networking site!" he told parents. "None."

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