Post 4: Is anything really private anymore? Protecting yourself in the digital age.

What are teens sharing online?

This is only my second year teaching, but I have been working with youth for the last eight years. Throughout this time, I have witnessed my fair share of students' issues in the online world. I have also seen the same in unsafe use in my teenage years. People in my high school have gotten in trouble over things shared online. There was a group of male students in my school who gathered and shared a large number of explicit images of female students amongst themselves. Once word started to spread that a group of students were doing such a thing, the administrators at my school called the police, who came in and launched a small investigation. All the students had lengthy talks with the police, their parents and the principal. Afterwards, the boys were suspended, but nothing further was done. 


As a teacher, I have seen some similar issues arise with students and some other unsafe uses of technology. Some situations have involved the sharing of explicit images. Still, there have been other times when my students openly told me about adding strangers online "just because." Students have airdroped inappropriate memes to the whole class (including me). There are many issues and safety concerns with the internet and social media use. Students must be taught to be careful with their online use and different ways to protect themselves online. Young people are growing up with technology at their fingertips. They are only sometimes aware of the long-term implications they may face for what they share online.   


How can we help protect young people while online? 

With the help of CBC's Keeping Canada Safe blog (2017), here are some ways to help protect youth and students with their online use:


  • Being a role model- show students and children how to use social media correctly. 
  • Explain the different risks that could be involved and show real-life examples to help them relate.
  • Talk to them about different online content that they might see.
  • Ensure they understand what information they can give out that should be private or personal information.
  • Develop positive relationships where the student or child feels comfortable discussing these issues and is safe speaking if anything goes wrong. 
  • Create a plan where they know what they are allowed to do and what is considered risking social media use. 

In Dana Boyd's 2014 book "It's Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens," it is mentioned how, by default, most social media platforms have privacy settings set to public by default. It isn't a huge deal but can lead to several online dangers. Boyd (2014) explains that it can show teens to share much personal information with others they may never share in person. From their location to underage drinking, they rarely think of the consequences of sharing private information online. 


References:



Boyd, D. (2014). It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens (1st ed.). Yale University Press. https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300166439


CBC . (2017). How to keep your kids safe online - keeping canada safe - CBC-TV. CBCnews. https://www.cbc.ca/keepingcanadasafe/blog/keep-kids-safe-online 




Comments

  1. Laura Baker WarrenJanuary 30, 2024 at 6:31 AM

    Lots to consider here and some great resources! Excellent post!

    ReplyDelete

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