Peekaboo, I C U !

You already have zero privacy. Get over it.
- Scott McNealy, CEO of Sun Microsystems (1999)

On a recent morning, I spent some time cooling my heels in purgatory – or, in more secular terms – the doctor’s waiting room. Tired of leafing through multiple issues of The American Journal of Orthopedics, I unabashedly eavesdropped on a pair of women sitting beside me. One of the women was complaining about her teenage daughter, who had apparently been grumbling to her parents about the “major” lack of privacy in their house. “So what?” mused the woman’s companion. “That’s entirely normal at her age.” “Yes,” retorted the first woman, “but we found out she’d been posting pictures of herself in her underwear on Facebook!”

While most of us roll our eyes at the ill-considered behavior demonstrated by the teen, the paradoxical attitude she displayed about privacy is one that is increasingly mirrored by society at large. On the one hand, the media is rife with citizen complaints about personal information stored in databases, residential images on Google Earth and Maps, cell phone tracking, and so on. Meanwhile, millions of people divulge their most personal details on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites. So, just what is the role of privacy in contemporary society, and how should we educate our students about it?

Privacy is a fundamental human right, and one that is vital to personal independence. Students often don’t realize how compromising their privacy now may come back to haunt them in the future. States, too, often fail to protect student privacy. A recent study found that states frequently collect more student data than is required, and often retain that data long after it should have been purged. In addition to test scores and grades, many systems retain student information such as Social Security numbers, health information, financial data, and disciplinary infractions for years after the student has graduated. Facebook and other sites collect data on everyone who uses their services – and sells that data to marketing companies and other entities. They know a whole lot more about you and your life than you could ever imagine.

The safeguarding of one’s personal information by both individuals and larger entities is more important than ever, and with much higher risks at stake. Students need to understand that their personal privacy, both in-person and online, needs to be carefully guarded to protect both their safety and dignity.

My picks this week focus on individual privacy, and the difference between personal and private information. The resources below are all derived from Common Sense Media, which is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization that provides educators and parents with information and tools related to media and technology. As a parent, I’ve consulted their movie, TV, and video game reviews for years. Common Sense Media has long been a leader in promoting students’ personal safety and well-being in a digital world. As always, we’ll also be featuring many more lessons and resources on online privacy throughout the week on the Gateway’s Twitter and Facebook pages, so be sure to give those a look.

Keep It Private
Subjects: Safety, Reading
Grade: K-2
In this lesson, students learn that many websites ask for information that is private and discuss how to responsibly handle such requests.

Private and Personal Information
Subjects: Safety, Technology
Grade: 3-5
Students learn they can converse and share ideas and opinions with others in cyberspace. They adopt a critical thinking process that empowers them to protect themselves and their families as they visit sites requesting private identity information.

Oops! I Broadcast It on the Internet
Subjects: Safety, Technology, Language Arts
Grade: 9-12
In this lesson, students are introduced to the benefits of sharing information online and the potential risks of sharing inappropriate information.