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Values & Beliefs
đź•›Suggested Time:Â Total 60 minutes
Goal:Â
Identify core values and beliefs
Examine these values in conjunction with digital technologies
Examine technology through an ethical lens
Take Actionable Steps to enacting behavior and habit changes
Compile steps you can take for yourself to take ownership of your tech habits and behaviors to be more informed and transformed
Cultivate critical consciousness
Challenge assumptions and preconceived notions about technologies
Reflect on social, political, and ethical implications of digital systems
Overview
This workshop (and workshop series):Â
Aims for you to consider your relationship with technology and the digital tools that you use in your life rooted in your values and beliefs
Focuses on controllable aspects of technology use and tech habits that individuals have
Does not push the responsibility (or any blame) on individuals when it comes to large-scale economic and environmental impacts driven and purported by corporations, companies, governments, and other contributing third parties
SECTION 1
SECTION 1
I
Suggested Time:Â 10-15 minutes
Goal:Â Identify and prioritize your personal values that guide everyday choices, especially around technology.
Start Up Questions:
Start Up Questions:
Why start with values? Because values are your internal compass.
What are values and where do they come from?
Interactive Activity: Values SortingÂ
Interactive Activity: Values SortingÂ
Use Harvard Digital Thriving PDF or recreate an interactive drag-and-drop sorting game (if online platform allows).
Invite users to sort these values:
Authenticity, Balance, Connection
Emotional Health, Gratitude, Hard Work
Independence, Justice, Kindness
Open-Mindedness, Physical Health, Presence
Privacy, Spirituality
Reflection Prompts
1. Which top 3 values did you choose?
2. How do those values currently influence your tech use? (e.g. “If I value presence, why do I check my phone during meals?”)
SECTION 2
SECTION 2
The Responsibility in Responsible Tech
The Responsibility in Responsible Tech
I
Suggested Time: 20–25 minutes
Goal:Â Distinguish between individual, corporate, and institutional roles in tech responsibility.
🅰️Why do so many people want your data?
🅰️Why do so many people want your data?
Understanding why personal data is highly sought after is crucial in the digital age. It's important to recognize that there is a profitable market for data. Data is actively bought and sold for several purposes. These include tailoring products and services to target consumers more effectively, making advertising more accurate, and conducting statistical analysis. Data itself can be categorized into different types. Explicit data is information that a user provides willingly. Implicit data is collected without direct user input. Finally, inferred data refers to a profile created around a user based on collected information.
🅱️Who Bears Responsibility?
🅱️Who Bears Responsibility?
Responsibilities of Others
For Companies, policymakers, institutions, designers, developers, and any other contributing groups:Â
Responsible tech is a way of working that aligns technology and organizational behavior with the best interests of people and the planet. It explores and actively considers the values, unintended consequences and negative impacts of tech, and actively manages, mitigates and reduces risk and harm.
The Library’s Responsibility
NYU Libraries has a lot of resources and services that use and rely on various types of technologies and digital tools
The Libraries’ Mission and Values inform decisions that library workers make, taking into consideration and pushing for what is ethical, equitable, and protective of our students, faculty, staff, and community members as much and as often as possible
Software, subscriptions, licensing
Transparency, mitigation, and harm reductionÂ
Collective efforts in assessing what technologies, services, and materials are important
Your Responsibility (to yourself!)
Considering your personal responsibility in navigating technology involves several key actions. It is important to examine what you are agreeing to when using technology. This includes understanding terms of service agreements and how website cookies are used for personalization and tracking. Furthermore, maintaining awareness and staying informed about personal data collection is crucial. This involves knowing where and how your personal data and materials are stored, such as on cloud servers or physical hard drives. Understanding concepts like the "Right to Be Forgotten" is also part of this responsibility. Ultimately, reflecting on how your technological decisions affect your mental, physical, financial, and social health is a vital aspect of taking responsibility for yourself in the digital realm.
Activity: How Tech Affects Us
A Reflection Activity: Choose a piece of tech (device, software, application) that you want to further investigate and fill in the boxes.
SECTION 3
SECTION 3
Taking Actionable Steps
Taking Actionable Steps
I
Suggested Time:Â 10-15 minutes
Goal:Â Begin to reshape your digital habits in ways that align with your values.
To take actionable steps towards more responsible technology use, it is beneficial to begin by taking a critical pause when faced with technological choices or pop-ups. Consider if you are automatically agreeing to things like pop-ups simply to dismiss them, or if your phone usage is unintentionally dictating aspects of your life, such as your sleep schedule. Another valuable step is to develop a running inventory of your digital and tech footprint. This can be approached by starting small and focusing on one area at a time. Reflect on questions such as: What technology and devices are you using consistently, and which ones are not being used regularly? Assess your financial capacity for continued usage. Evaluate your subscriptions, identifying which ones you genuinely want and which you no longer use. Also, consider which phone or computer applications are present on your devices but serve as unnecessary "bloatware". Organizing and categorizing these items into a "Use," "Delete," or "Recycle" list can further assist in managing your digital presence.Finally, check-in regularly with the list (ex: monthly, seasonally, once a year, etc).
Taking actionable steps towards responsible technology also use involves several strategies. One approach is to say "No" as much as possible, and if declining isn't feasible, endeavor to find alternative options whenever possible. An example provided is saying no to having your image taken at the airport line. It is also recommended to run a "Habit Check" as a form of self-assessment. Furthermore, engaging in different forms of self and community advocacy is encouraged, with organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and their Electronic Frontier Alliance Toolkits mentioned as examples. Finally, maintaining awareness by staying informed about tech-related news is crucial. This includes reviewing news articles and social media threads, as well as keeping up with policies and congressional bills, particularly those related to Science, Tech, and Communications. Resources like the FTC’s Report: A Look Behind the Screens and Summaries of Main Points are also valuable for staying informed.
Final Notes
Final Notes
Suggested Time:Â 5 minutes
This opening session invites you to pause and reflect: how do you truly relate to the technology woven into your daily life? In a world where digital tools are ever-present, it’s easy to fall into automatic patterns of use. But stepping back to examine your values and beliefs can bring clarity. What do you want your relationship with technology to look like? What truly matters to you?
Self-regulation is part of the answer, but not the whole story. Rethinking your tech habits isn’t just about personal restraint; it’s about understanding the wider ecosystem you’re part of. Every choice you make—how you scroll, share, disconnect, or engage—exists within a larger, collective context. And in that context, your choices have weight. They ripple outward.
Taking ownership of your digital life requires ongoing effort. It’s not always easy, but it’s worthwhile. Developing healthier habits doesn’t happen all at once; it’s a practice, one that unfolds with awareness, honesty, and care.
This is just the beginning. In our next session, we’ll turn our focus to accountability. What it means to stand by our intentions and take action, not just for ourselves, but within our communities.
Extended Readings and Materials
Extended Readings and Materials
Healthy Tech Habits from APA
Responsible Tech Guide from All Tech Is HumanÂ
Sign-up to access PDF is requiredÂ
Responsible Technology
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