Everyone thinks it's fun to take part in pranks at college, and in some cases, that's true. In this high-tech age, digital pranks are becoming more and more common as technology has become more and more stealthy, high-quality, and seemingly undetectable.

It's extremely easy to prank someone using your computer, a cell phone, or some other type of digital medium. You should also be aware that it's also very easy to get into serious trouble if you commit one of these digital pranks and cause harm to other students or to your school.

Digital/Electronic Media Pranks Are Extremely Disruptive

Young people sometimes take pranks a step too far and commit malicious against other students via digital means. These pranks may involve posting embarrassing photos or videos, creating fake accounts to spread rumors, and even hacking into someone's computer or phone. While these activities may seem like harmless fun, they can result in legal ramifications such as cyberbullying charges, copyright infringement allegations, or damage to one's reputation.

Even if you didn't intend to harm anyone, digital pranks may violate schools' codes of conduct and could get students into trouble. These codes have strict rules covering offline and online behavior. If you're caught violating these policies, you may have to go before your school's disciplinary committee and may face sanctions like suspension or even expulsion.

Types of Digital College Pranks

Following are just a few types of digital pranks that could end up destroying your future.

1. Email pranks: Sending an email pretending to be a professor or administrator or creating a fake email account and sending messages from it.
2. Social media pranks: Creating a fake account on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and sending messages or posting updates from it, getting people to interact with it.
3. Website pranks: Creating fake websites or altering existing ones as a prank, creating a fake news website and posting satirical articles, or altering a classmate's website to include humorous content.
4. Text message pranks: Pretending to be someone else or sending messages with a fake emergency or urgent situation to see how the recipient reacts.
5. AI: Pranking people using AI-generated images or videos, cloning people's voices, or using any of the other never-seen-before apps and websites that use artificial intelligence.

Any of the above pranks can quickly turn into violations, landing you in serious trouble and putting your college education in jeopardy. Depending on how bad the infraction was, sanctions could range from a stern warning to expulsion.

Reach Out for Legal Help

If you're facing disciplinary action by your college or university because of a digital prank gone wrong, you need to go through the process with an experienced college discipline attorney by your side. Sanctions imposed by your school could derail your education, and you shouldn't fight allegations alone.

National education attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm have years of experience helping students who've faced disciplinary action from their schools due to pranks or other violations. They know exactly what to do to make sure that their clients get the best defense possible. Even if your school says that you cannot have an attorney present during the proceedings, the team can still help by doing things like drafting emails, interviewing witnesses, and preparing your defense. Don't go it alone.

Reach out to the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686, or contact us online.