Pittwater Life June 2022 Issue

Business Life: Law
with Jennifer Harris
School Life
‘Social Media’ can present
as a terrifying medium...
RELATIONSHIPS:
Children need to
feel they belong.
Business Life
As readers settle to read
Pittwater Life it is likely
that before doing so you
will have checked at least one
social media site – Facebook,
LinkedIn, Instagram or Twitter
– as you tend to do throughout
the day. Social media has had
and is having an impact on
every part of our society – not
only in business, the legal
profession and life at its most
personal level, as people share
their most intimate thoughts
and feelings.
Business operators surveyed
have identified reputational
damage from online attacks or
criticism as a primary risk.
Professional Investigators find
that confidential information
which previously would have
been very difficult to obtain can
now be obtained from social
media sites, as well as entirely
new information from analysis
of data, which makes social
media a vital investigative tool.
Insurance companies
dedicated to ensuring that
fraudulent claims are not
paid out look carefully at the
claimant’s digital footprint. On
an industry level, companies
have begun introducing their
own forms of vigilantism by
‘mapping out’ the types of
activities and areas where
fraudulent claims are most
likely to be filed, and circulating
the data among themselves.
Police maintain a social media
presence and Government and
community groups are anxious
about the use of social media
for criminal or terrorist activities;
and the Commonwealth
Government has legislated
to protect children from
cyberbullying attacks derived
mainly from social media.
The legal profession has
recognised the use of sites such
as Facebook and Twitter; its
extensive use by academics and
lawyers is such that that many
courts (including the Supreme
Court) have their own Twitter
accounts for publication of
information and judgments.
So what is social media? The
most common forms are as
follows. (Not an exhaustive list.)
Facebook – a popular free
social networking website that
allows registered users to create
profiles, upload photos and
video, send messages and keep
in touch with people.
There are many billions of
active users on Facebook. It is
said to be currently the world’s
most popular social networking
website.
LinkedIn – a social networking
site designed specifically for the
business community. The aim
for the site is to allow registered
members to establish and
document networks of people
known to them and who they
trust professionally.
A LinkedIn member’s
profile page emphasises
skills, employment history
and education and contains
network news and updates.
Network members are known
as ‘connections’. Unlike other
free social networking LinkedIn
requires connections to have a
pre-existing relationship.
TripAdvisor – a platform
which encourages feedback
from consumers and is the
major source of reputational
damage claims and complaints.
There are now entire websites
dedicated to reputation
protection for restaurants,
hotels or businesses which
receive bad reviews such critical
reviews are a fertile source of
defamation actions.
Instagram – a service that
enables its users to take
pictures and videos, and share
them either publicly or privately
as well as through other social
networking platforms, such as
Facebook or Twitter.
Twitter – a tweet is a post on
Twitter in which users deliver
280-character updates of what
is going on in their lives which
they consider are interesting
or amusing to their contacts or
followers. Twitter allows people
to post, from their phones,
short updates and often about
things that irritate them like
road rage and politics.
On Twitter millions of ‘tweets’
are sent out every second and
can be retweeted. Elon Musk’s
recent takeover of Twitter is
causing worldwide interest and
has encouraged discussions on
freedom of speech.
So much of social media is
unfiltered, as people discuss
their thoughts and provide a
more-or-less permanent record
of their activities.
So how should one treat
social media? If in business, a
prudent course would be to be
circumspect and careful and
to make a distinction between
business and pleasure, between
private and public matters; and
if in doubt – stay offline!
Comment supplied by
Jennifer Harris, of Jennifer
Harris & Associates,
Solicitors, 4/57 Avalon
Parade, Avalon Beach.
T: 9973 2011. F: 9918 3290.
E: jennifer@jenniferharris.com.au
W: www.jenniferharris.com.au
60 JUNE 2022
The Local Voice Since 1991
Boys’ critical early years
Research has shown that when teachers prioritise building strong
connections with students, it significantly impacts long-term
wellbeing in students, as well as the ability to learn and stay
engaged at school.
Mosman Prep Headmaster and Newport resident Peter Grimes
agrees that while safe, supportive relationships and early positive
learning experiences begin at home, they could be powerfully
enhanced through connection with others outside the family, such
as teachers or sporting coaches.
“Building strong relationships with students is a vital part of our
approach to education at Mosman Prep, whether at the school
itself, at our Outdoor Learning Centre at Terrey Hills, or during
school camps and excursions,” Mr Grimes said.
“Relationships with caring, responsive adults and early positive
experiences build strong brain architecture for children.
“The child then develops inner security for life, and his brain
acquires the skills of intimate communication, and a love of life.”
He said that to be free to focus on their learning, children need to
feel that they belong, are understood, respected and appreciated.
“Our parents understand and value the importance of
relationship, deep connection, partnership and community
(students, staff and parents) to learning success, and appreciate our
comprehensive and invested approach.”
Mr Grimes stressed the importance of being aware that the first
critical period of brain development begins around age 2 and
concludes around age 7.
“Early intervention in Preschool and Primary School lays the
foundation for a child’s mental development, growth and ultimately
their success in the future,” Mr Grimes said. “Because at this time,
a growing child’s mind is like putty and can be easily moulded; the
words we use and the actions we take help children’s brains actually
change and be built, as they undergo new experiences.”
He added early years learning was crucial in laying the
foundation for a child’s holistic education and vital for acquiring
core reading/numeracy skills
“Providing the right ingredients for healthy development for
children from the start, produces better outcomes, rather than
trying to fix problems later,” he said.
“At Mosman Prep, we are intentional about maximising this
critical period in a boy’s development through purposeful play
to explicit instruction in literacy and numeracy, creative arts,
languages, physical education, and spiritual and character
development.
“This helps develop skills that lead to better relationships, better
mental health, and more meaningful and compassionate lives.”
*Mosman Prep is holding an Open Evening from 4.30-8pm on
Thursday 16 June; more info 9968 4044.
The Local Voice Since 1991
JUNE 2022 61
Business Life