Privacy and Safety

The Largest Concern with Technology and Social Media in School: Privacy and Safety
John Taylor
EDU 325: Foundations of Educational Technology
Dr. Lisa Sill
January 27, 2015

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Privacy and Safety

One of the biggest issues I find in technology today, because it is the biggest
threat for our children and the easiest to cover up, is the privacy and safety concern for
internet users. Since its original internetwork communication concept in 1958, the
internet has been the most powerful piece of technological communication where
everything anywhere is now just a single click of a button away. Everything means
anything! While this technology is truly outstanding, no one knew of the risks and
safety concerns that could be derived from what such a tool.

As students sign up for social networking sites and more, which can be very
useful in the classroom, more and more personal information and data of the students
is now attainable. Predators can be disguised as a friendly neighbor or even a fake
student at another school and can lure students to provide even more information.
According to Steven Dowshen, MD and author for KidsHeatlh team, the Childrens
Online Privacy Protection Act of 2000 was set into motion to require websites to
explain their privacy policies on the site and get parental consent before collecting or
using a child's personal information but Dowshen emphasizes that even with this law,
your kids' best online protection is you. [parent, guardian, teacher, mentor] (2011).

The J.E. and Z.B. Healthcare professional team for The Childrens Advocacy
Center make a very valid and real point when referring to teens or middle school
adolescents in regards to privacy on the net: Teens dont get privacy! They
continue by saying that once your child posts, emails and Instant Messages (IMs)or
shares music or photosthe electronic markers stay online pretty much forever.
(2014). Both Dowshen and the Childrens Advocacy Team continue much of what they

Privacy and Safety

say in regards to internet etiquette or even the exposure to adult material being a real
risk for children.

Conclusion

While the internet is such a powerful and the most resourceful tool in the
classroom, it is vital that schools, and even individual classrooms, include some form of
accountability to protect the eyes, minds, information, privacy, and hearts of our
students. Now that students can text, dance to an MP3 player, and communicate with a
handheld PDA at the same time, the risks from the lack of security on all of the devices
we have today is pure dangerous. Thankfully, the development of browsing security as
technology develops is an ongoing process even today. Schools have filters, network
screens and IT departments who can help manage the functionality of the technology in
the classroom as well as the security and safety of its use within the whole school.

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REFERENCES

Roblyer, M. D., & Doering, A. H. (2010, July 20). Top ten issues shaping today's
technology uses in education. Retrieved from
http://www.education.com/reference/article/ten-issues-shaping-today-technology
Butler, J.E. & Z.B. (2014) Teen Internet Privacy Tips and Safety for Parents. Retrieved
from: http://www.cham.org/programs/butler/families/tips/
Dowshen, S. MD, (June 2011) Internet Safety. Retrieved
from: http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/net_safety.html#
Federal Trade Comission. (2000) Childrens Online Privacy Protection Rule.
Retrieved from: http://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/rules/rulemaking-regulatory-reformproceedings/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule
Poftak, Amy. Technology & Learning Volume: 23 Issue: 1 (2002-08-01) p. 36-44. ISSN:
1053-6728 Retrieved from: http://search.proquest.com.proxylibrary.ashford.edu/docview/212097854?accountid=32521