“We are not Google’s customers: we are its products. We-our fancies, fetishes, predilections and preferences- are what Google sells to advertisers. When we use Google to find out things on the Web, Google uses our Web searches to find out things about us.”
-Siva Vaidhyanathan (2011)
Anyone scared by that? Taken aback? Shocked? It certainly puts a different spin on things. What was once an innocent task, looking up information on Google, is actually being used for other purposes. Our information is stored and used, almost without our consent. Is that the agreement we enter into when we log onto the Web? You can search anything you like- for free! - but in return, you agree to let Google (or other similar multi-national company) take your personal details and for use that will profit their bank accounts.
Genius, really. And it is not only Google, Facebook is doing it too. All the information that a Facebook user inputs to create an account (for free! there it is again) such as date of birth, location, hometown, sex, relationship status and interests are being used by advertisers. For those who have Facebook I am sure you know what I’m talking about. They’re the pesky advertisements that pop up on the side of the screen. These adverts are targeted to the user depending on the information they list in their profile.
And while we may be (fairly) responsible adults that can employ strategies to minimise the information that is out there, available to the world, what about young adults and children that may not know any better? Children that think its ‘cool’ to have a Facebook page even though they are under the required age (which is 13 years old). Children jump onto chat rooms, unaware they may be talking to strangers, trying to steal their identity. As teachers, we have a responsibility to educate our young students about the dangers of the online world. While it may not be our sole responsibility (a lot comes down the parents and the students themselves), we can assist by making students aware of the issues regarding cyber safety and arm them with ways to protect themselves.
“It makes no sense to teach kids to be safe online by preventing them from being online. This would be like trying to teach someone to swim on dry land (…)”
- William Kist (2010)
And it is herein where the problem lies. Parents (and teachers) have often found that the best way to prevent children from being exposed to online dangers is to simply not expose them to the online world at all. However sooner or later they will be logging on. And when do they, they need to be ready.
We need to teach our students…
1. Strategies for dealing with digital safety issues
1. Strategies for dealing with digital safety issues
· Cyber bullying
· Inappropriate materials
· Cyber predation
2. Strategies for protecting privacy
· Posting personal information
Exercise caution when talking about where you are going on the week, for example, don’t list the address of someone’s house online; do not post inappropriate photos or videos; always ask the people who are in the photos and videos if they wish to have them uploaded (and tagged).
Exercise caution when talking about where you are going on the week, for example, don’t list the address of someone’s house online; do not post inappropriate photos or videos; always ask the people who are in the photos and videos if they wish to have them uploaded (and tagged).
· Privacy settings
Set photos and your profile to the highest privacy setting available; only release basic information, for example, your name; keep your location, age, school etc hidden.
Set photos and your profile to the highest privacy setting available; only release basic information, for example, your name; keep your location, age, school etc hidden.
3. 3. Strategies for developing a positive online reputation
Remind students that any information they put online is there forever, and that people will judge them based upon what they find online. For example, someone may look at the Facebook page and their video or photo postings, some of which may be inappropriate. While this may not affect them immediately, later in life it may come back to haunt them, for example a potential employer may conduct a search to see if he/she is a worthy candidate for a job.
Remind students that any information they put online is there forever, and that people will judge them based upon what they find online. For example, someone may look at the Facebook page and their video or photo postings, some of which may be inappropriate. While this may not affect them immediately, later in life it may come back to haunt them, for example a potential employer may conduct a search to see if he/she is a worthy candidate for a job.
(Ref: Pegrum, M. (2011). Lecture Notes: Digital Safety)
Useful Resources
5 Step Guide
So, come Sunday night when you contemplate posting any videos or photos from the weekend, take the time to stop and think: is this the kind of information I want online? Would I show this to my neighbour, the person sitting next to me on the bus, or my employer? Do I want this contributing to my online reputation? And if the answer is no to any of these questions, then maybe it it's time to practice what you preach and keep those photos tucked away for a more appropriate setting.
So, come Sunday night when you contemplate posting any videos or photos from the weekend, take the time to stop and think: is this the kind of information I want online? Would I show this to my neighbour, the person sitting next to me on the bus, or my employer? Do I want this contributing to my online reputation? And if the answer is no to any of these questions, then maybe it it's time to practice what you preach and keep those photos tucked away for a more appropriate setting.
6 comments:
This is really good overview of the whole area of digital safety and privacy. You offer some useful advice on Facebook at the end too ...
I guess that's the 'price' we pay for using the search engines for free. I was equally taken aback when I learnt that Facebook and other sites store our information and create ads that are suppose to appeal to us. This to me is somewhat like cyberstalking!
Thanks for summarizing the strategies teachers could employ when teaching students to surf the web smartly. The alternative websites you suggested are really good too! :)
Feel free to have a look at those websites, that's what they're for!
Mark- maybe everyone should heed this advice regarding the posting of Facebook photos/videos. It would save many awkward and embarrassing situations for Facebook users everywhere!
It certainly makes you think about what you post on the internet! Or just clicking 'yes' or 'accept' to those terms that no one reads...
We probably have no idea about the real use of our personal information that we willingly give up far too easily over the internet... just like the recent playstation network hack where personal details of millions were exposed!
Yes I agree Anonymous. I always just click 'yes' without reading the terms. After all, who really has the time? Does anyone else do the same?
Great reference to the recent hacking of Playstation. Was your information hacked Anonymous?
You have managed to write a very informative post about digital safety and Google information logging in one concise post... whereas it took me two blog posts and roughly 3000 words! Dammit! Well done!
I think you make a good point about children thinking it is 'cool' to have a profile before they are old enough - similar to most things that are age-restricted, when you're a child/teenager, you want it NOW instead of waiting! Things like MA15+/R-rated movies, drinking etc... I feel that the lure of 'underage-Facebooking' is somewhat similar...
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