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Media Monitor
Media Monitor
Reflect On...
Reflect On...
How much information do you think your school knows about you?
How much information do you think your school knows about you?
Name, address, class schedule, or academic information, anything else?
What about what you do outside of school? Do you think they know anything about that?
What about what you do outside of school? Do you think they know anything about that?
No? What about extracurricular activities that are connected to the school? What about social media as a way for the school to know about what students do?
This video shows how one school monitors its students' social media.
This video shows how one school monitors its students' social media.
Think about how the school does it and whether you agree or not.
Think about how the school does it and whether you agree or not.
Are you for or against schools monitoring students' social media accounts?
Are you for or against schools monitoring students' social media accounts?
Here are some example arguments:
Schools Should Monitor Social Media:
Problems that start on social media, like bullying, transfer to school.
Problems on social media can distract from learning and cause safety issues.
Schools can be sued if they don't take online threats seriously.
Schools Shouldn't Monitor Social Media:
Monitoring what students like and their private messages is going too far and can lead to unfair discipline.
Open-ended access like collecting passwords or "shoulder-surfing" potentially stifles free speech and thinking.
Schools are not the only ones tracking people's social media. The government also tracks a large amount of information about people, including social media activity.
Schools are not the only ones tracking people's social media. The government also tracks a large amount of information about people, including social media activity.
Some say it's necessary to keep people safe. Others argue it's a type of mass surveillance. Critics say it violates people's privacy and the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution.
Some say it's necessary to keep people safe. Others argue it's a type of mass surveillance. Critics say it violates people's privacy and the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution.
Surveillance
Surveillance
Surveillance means closely watching or keeping track of a person or people.
Fourth Amendment of the Constitution
Fourth Amendment of the Constitution
Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, which is a law that protects people from unreasonable searches.
Activity
Activity
Safety Vs. Privacy
Safety Vs. Privacy
Complete part 1. (Make a copy of google doc to fill in sections)
Directions:
Directions:
Complete Part 1 of the Safety Vs. Privacy worksheet with a partner or by yourself.
Choose TWO resources listed below and fill out the notes tracker on the Safety Vs. Privacy worksheet on page 2.
Choose TWO resources below:
Choose TWO resources below:
Based on the resources what are some reasons for and against whether the government—including schools—should be able to access your social media and cellphone data.
Based on the resources what are some reasons for and against whether the government—including schools—should be able to access your social media and cellphone data.
Should
Should
Here are some examples:
Here are some examples:
Can Police Use Cellphone Location Data Without a Warrant?
Cellphone information maybe isn't that sensitive (not as sensitive as bank records).
Privacy doesn't apply when you give your information to a third party, which is what a cellphone provider is.
How Governments Use Big Data to Violate Human Rights
Governments could use big data to crack down on misogyny and other abusive behaviors.
Glenn Greenwald: Why Privacy Matters
Only people who are engaged in bad acts have a reason to keep their privacy.
If you're doing something you don't want people to know about, maybe you shouldn't be doing it.
Privacy is no longer a "social norm."
Should Not
Should Not
Here are some examples:
Here are some examples:
Most people don't want the government to be able to track their locations 24/7.
A line has to be drawn for new technologies (what about biometric data from "smart" watches?).
How Governments Use Big Data to Violate Human Rights
If governments are able to access data from millions of people, it could be used to discriminate and prevent dissent.
Governments have already used big data to police women's rights and LGBTQ rights and to assassinate dissenters.
Glenn Greenwald: Why Privacy Matters
The world is not simply made up of "good people" and "bad people."
Everyone, not just "bad people," values privacy and takes steps to keep some things private.
People who argue against privacy often take steps to keep their privacy.
As human beings, we're social animals and we like sharing, but it's just as important to us to have a place where we can be alone and free from other people looking.
We all have people we confide in and tell things we don't want others to know about.
Being in a state where we think we're being watched changes our behavior; it makes us more conformist and compliant.
Remember...
Remember...
Government collection of data can have a disproportionate effect on groups who are marginalized in that country.
Government collection of data can have a disproportionate effect on groups who are marginalized in that country.
Take a Side
Take a Side
Complete Part 2 of the Safety Vs. Privacy worksheet by yourself.
Should the government have access to all your cellphone data and social media? Why, or why not?
Should the government have access to all your cellphone data and social media? Why, or why not?
Optional Extension Activity
Optional Extension Activity
You took a position on the topic of online surveillance and prepared your strongest reasons and evidence.
In Class:
Form a debate team according to your position and hold an in-class debate. Check out this article for some easy high-debate formats.
At Home:
With a family member or friend, argue your side of the topic and debate why you are for or against online surveillance.
Lesson Quiz
Lesson Quiz
Family Tips
Family Tips
Digital Citizenship Family Activity:
Digital Citizenship Family Activity:
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