As I enter this world of technology – social media – I find myself questioning the safety and security of myself and possibly my students.
Background: My husband is a police officer and has issues with social networking sites. Even before this class began he was asking me to get rid of my facebook account! I don;t really even go on there – but he did not want any pics of me or my kids on the site. When I told him that I put up a youtube intro video he was adament that it be taken off asap!
I know that technology is important to the learning process and know that I need to embrace it and find ways to incorporate it into my class – but at the very same time I have some concerns about safety and security? I wonder if parents would embrace this type of learning at elementary and high school levels?
Does anyone else feel the same way?
elissa Said:
on September 29, 2009 at 10:55 pm
I teach high school (science) in Wisconsin. Safety and security are important, but so is the integration of technology (as you already know). I have a class blog for my upper-level students (who are mostly seniors). To meet the safety / security needs, my kids’ identities are cloaked (they use only aliases, like SoccerGrrl15 or whatever, and they know not to use any identifying details in posts or comments). In addition, we’ve blocked outside comments. (I’d like to eventually open it though.)
In regards to the Facebook concerns – FB is such a huge part of most teens’ lives that I don’t think we can – or should – ignore it. I have a profile and I’ve set the privacy levels pretty carefully; if and when former students send me friend requests, I will accept but I also send them a link explaining how they should set THEIR privacy levels so I can’t see everything. In addition, teachers can set up FB “groups” where kids can join without actually “friending” the teacher; it comes in handy because my students can ask questions, clarify assignments, etc. and get answers from either me or each other. Yes, you could do the same thing with a Ning and avoid FB, but honestly since most of my kids spend so much time there, it is more efficient to use that platform.
courosa Said:
on September 29, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Hi Andrea,
It is my understanding that RCMP officers are told not to have Facebook accounts. I am not sure if your husband is RCMP or City, but I assume there are similar policies. In cases where identity needs to be protected, such as those that work undercover, I understand the need. However, outside of circumstances that require anonymity (for various of employment or family), the research in this area (and there is a lot) does NOT support a reason to fear. For instance, child abduction, kidnapping, or sexual abuse simply does not happen due to people posting their images or videos on social networking sites. There is no correlation with any statistical significance.
Here’s a good post from Dean Shareski on the issue with links to research. http://ideasandthoughts.org/2008/02/24/im-telling-you-for-the-last-time/
These are important questions, but it is important to look at this contextually and statistically. The fear on this issue is largely initiated and perpetuated by mainstream media. And, in my own discussions with law enforcement agencies, I have yet to have heard anything more than anecdotal of cases within the general public. If there is more, concrete information, then I would think that agencies would release such material for public scrutiny. But, as I mentioned earlier, I understand the need for officers to protect their identities in terms of the work that they do.
Russ Said:
on September 29, 2009 at 11:01 pm
i am torn when it comes to the whole thing. I use Twitter and my wife has a FB page. We do not post private information on the web, but if a person did a simple Google search of my name they would have where I work, what days I am gone from home, where I live, etc.
If it is private I feel better, but so far I will not let my teen have a FB or My Space page. I Twitter and feel strange about that sometimes.
If the technology is private, like a CMS then I see no harm. I teach a class and have discussion boards.
I have not helped much, but you have made me think.
Thanks
Gail Said:
on September 29, 2009 at 11:03 pm
I don’t know of any documented cases of abduction or kidnapping of a schoolchild (elementary level) due to child image being posted online. Of course we want to keep children safe. I am not sure why we continue to print Children’s images in local newspapers and are fearful of posting them online.
Most trouble seems to have to do with people who choose to meet in real world people who they “have met” online. I believe we need to help students and their parents know how to be safe.
Maureen Tumenas Said:
on September 29, 2009 at 11:04 pm
I just started working on internet safety with my 6th graders today and posted info to my blog http://mybcd.org/computer6 for the parents. I honestly believe that there are only 2 things to know re safety online- do not put personal info online and don’t be mean.
I know that the media has whipped many parents into a frenzy over this issue, but the data simply does not support the fear.
There is so much to be learned by using the internet in the classroom. My goal is to teach the kids how to use it safely. If schools shut their eyes and do not teach students how to use these resources properly- that is malpractice, or whatever you would like to call it.
anne marie Said:
on September 29, 2009 at 11:04 pm
I think the issue of safety that your husband is raising is partly about digital identities. As a police office ( and I have them in my family) one may wish to keep parts of one’s life seperate to others. Facebook does allow that but you have to trust your friends with the photos of your children online, just as you would if you gave them offline copies. The worry is that not everyone is as competent with the technology as you might be.
Were you saying anything on the YouTube intro that you wouldn’t be comfortable saying to a random stranger that you met on a bus? If so then it was safe in all likelihood.
But talking about what we really mean about being safe online is important. There was a recent paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association about the conduct of medical students online. If a student breaks the confidentiality of a patient online then it is safe for the student, but is causing harm to the patient. of course it may cause a secondary kind of harm to the student if found out but it is the patient who is important.
So I think sometimes we talk about being safety online when we are really talking about not feeling comfortable and being afraid that we will do or say somthing inappropriate that may put our reputation on the line, rather than risk real physical harm to others. Those concerns are something that we can deal with by getting skilled in handling ourselves online.
But maybe you could tell us more about your concerns?
Thanks
Anne Marie
Mary Worrell Said:
on September 29, 2009 at 11:07 pm
I understand your questions about safety and security on the Internet, but I’ve learned that you really don’t have to fear those things. And neither do our students if we take the necessary precautions.
Identities have been stolen and people exploited long before the advent of the Internet. While recklessness online can make these things easier for predators, we can become activists when it comes to online safety without shutting ourselves off to the world by closing Facebook accounts and removing YouTube videos. It doesn’t have to be easy for predators to find people to exploit online.
Most every social networking service, from Facebook to Twitter to Myspace, has stringent privacy policies and security measures in place. You can give yourself as much privacy as you like. I personally keep my Facebook, Myspace and Twitter accounts private so that I can approve followers/friends on my own and not have to worry about anyone seeing my account that I haven’t allowed.
That said, I have a public blog – with my full name, the city where I live and my photograph. This to me is just like publishing a book with my photo on the jacket and a brief bio about myself inside the cover (though admittedly much easier).
Your husband’s experience with social networking has no doubt left a sour taste in his mouth. I can only imagine the things he’s had to hear about on the job – Craigslist murders, sexting, etc. But these things occur outside the virtual world as well. We need to teach the same sort of personal safety lessons to our students when it comes to living in a connected world that we learned in kindergarten – don’t talk to strangers, call for help if you’re in trouble, etc. But we can do so without scaring them, and their parents, away from these useful (and I would argue vital) tools.
It is important for us as educators to have a presence online – especially in social networks. We owe it to our students to model appropriate behavior online and to demonstrate the myriad uses of social networking.
I wish you luck in creating your digital footprint!
- Mary
Robert Rowe Said:
on September 29, 2009 at 11:07 pm
I am *very* open online, but I understand peoples’ safety/security concerns when it comes to publishing online content. As much as I do publish, I always ask myself a few questions like, “Who do I want to see this?”, “Who might see this?”, etc. If you’re not comfortable posting something online, don’t.
Lori Sheldon Said:
on September 29, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Your concerns are valid. Once you put something on the web, it is there. Archived sites can still access them. However…. this is a situation where we need to weigh the benefits and risks. Having taught elementary school for 13 years, integrating tech involving a class website for the last 4, I did have one or two parents per year with the same concerns. I voiced to them that I respected their judgment, and sought a compromise. For example, instead of having their child’s picture in a video or on our website, perhaps the child could draw a picture of him/herself and that could be shown.
The largest component here is open communication with parents. Whenever I introduced something new in terms of technology, I took the parents with us on the journey. Once parents were able to see what their children were doing in class by reading blogs, looking at voicethreads, etc., they were able to see the value of having their third graders participate in web 2.0 technologies.
Hope this helps. As far as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, – I am addicted to the connections I have made. I do monitor my online image very diligently! Best of luck!
Dean Shareski Said:
on September 29, 2009 at 11:16 pm
While I respect the work that your husband does, I’m sure his attitudes about social networking is highly related to the negative situations he deals with. Mine is exactly the opposite.
I can point you to lots of research on this but here’s one thing I wrote:
http://ideasandthoughts.org/2007/06/07/just-the-facts/
I will argue, that the benefits far, and I mean far, outweigh the possible downsides. The fact that he suggests you take down your facebook site might be a natural response but the the reality is you can’t not participate.
As educators we must be models of appropriate online behaviour. Opting out will be very costly as companies will continue to search the internet for future employees. Currently a bad online profile might lose you a job but at the same time, a positive one will put you far ahead of those without one.
I could go on but my belief is that we ought to start young, teacher our children how to communicate, share and network in safe, ethical ways. To ignore is to do a great disservice to our children.
If you’re interested, one more link.
http://ideasandthoughts.org/2009/04/22/the-continuing-saga/
Anyway, thanks for sharing your concerns since you aren’t alone. If I came across harsh, I apologize. I hope it is more about my passion for this than anything else.
perrey Said:
on September 29, 2009 at 11:21 pm
I know what you mean last year we had an officer come into the classroom to discuss the safety of the internet with some older classes. I was blown away with what he said. I think that we have to give the students the right tools and knowledge about facebook. If we talk to our students about the safety and security about different sites and they follow this can they still go onto these sites?
Sue Said:
on September 29, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Our students are using social media now. The question is “how do we teach them to use it in a safe way?”. You can play an important role in teaching them safe, responsible use of social media. By asking questions in your blog, with your classmates, with your husband and your colleagues you will find the answers you need. Do your research and find the solutions that will fit you and your learners.
@mkaisaris (twtr) Said:
on September 29, 2009 at 11:47 pm
I understand your dilemma. I face this with the kids I teach all the time, and the only solution that I see as having any traction, is @GardenerCampbell s , as presented at OpenEd09 in Vancouver. All of us have to become our own system administrators. The only reason that facebook and myspace and youtube exist, is that we are too lazy to set up the sites to hold our content. The software exists. It is free and open source, and it is easy to set up and use. But everyone is afraid of the effort necessary to learn what ftp is, and how to create a database (it is dead easy by the way).
Here is Gardener’s presentation: http://openedconference.org/archives/541
metcarolann Said:
on September 29, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Hi,
It’s a common fear. I have a colleague who has a police officer husband who thought the same way, but he has of late changed his mind. (I’m not sure why) I think the big reality is that if you are a teacher, you are already part of the public record, if someone really wants to find you they can. You can either live your life worrying about it or not. I don’t as a rule make my facebook page available to just anyone, and I don’t friend students. I have separate accounts that I use with students, and separate email addresses. Other than that I am cautious but not crazy.
Lisa Thumann Said:
on September 30, 2009 at 12:09 am
I’ve spent the last month or so preparing for a 2 hour workshop I am doing this coming Thursday night for parents on social networking sites and Internet Safety.
I am amazed at just how UNLIKELY it is that something will happen to you as a result of putting something on a SNS as long as you use common sense. Here is what I found to be the best site out there for research and great Q&A. I hope you find it helpful as well.
http://www.connectsafely.org/
Trevor Meister Said:
on September 30, 2009 at 12:27 am
I actually find exactly the opposite is true for me. The scarier and more dangerous time in my opinion was back a bit during the time of the “internet chat” rooms, where pretty much everyone used fake names and lied about their identities. Also the ability to create “private chat rooms” led to situations that sometimes did become dangerous. Fast forward to now and compare to social networking and social media when used appropriately. For the most part, most social networking sites are geared to make it less likely that totally anonymous individuals become part of your social network. If someone with a fake user name tries to follow you, or add you as a friend, you should be able to back track to find out who they are and a bit about them. Either you know them, recognize them by reputation, or feel they are working in an area that is similar to yours and may be a valuable contact. If none of these are true deny/block done. By adjusting privacy settings, and being somewhat cautious about what you put in your public profile, and being quick to deny/block/report if necessary you can create a range of security to suit your situation. Part of the social thing to, is that you spend most of you time engaging with others in an open arena, and if issues arise, you are not alone and will find that members of your social network will jump in if necessary. This doesn’t happen by accident, its a skill that needs to be learned, and its a skill we can and must teach our children from early on. I have 3 kids under the age of 14, they have been online in various arenas since it was physically possible for them to operate keyboard and mouse;not once have we experienced anything remotely close to cyberstalking/bullying ever. If you want to see a group who can pick out a cyber creep in 10 sec flat, visit any number of kids social net sites. Try to blend in. You’ll be reported and banned the moment you do anything in violation of the rules, by the kids. I feel much more uncomfortable allowing them to walk to school, the local playground, or corner store than where they might go online, but only because I know they are prepared.
Emory Said:
on September 30, 2009 at 12:35 am
Interesting post. I have a few thoughts to share and although I don’t suggest I’m a expert on this subject, I do work primarily with elementary teachers in my school district, so we deal with these issues often.
The Internet has changed the landscape so much, we need to teach students (and teachers) to work with social media in appropriate safe ways. Our students are and will use social networking and social media, so I would like to make certain teachers play a role in guiding and instructing students. They will learn from someone.
I also think we all need to take steps to manage (not control) our online identity. Will Richardson talked about the need for students to be “clickable” . I think teachers also need to be aware of their digital identity. It may be futile to attempt to control all of our digital footprint but we can take steps to shape it – by the info we put out there.
Finally I think social media and social networking sites offer real opportunities for learning and learning communities.
However, I am not dismissing your husband’s viewpoint. I’ve talked with a few law enforcement officers about Internet safety and they have some of the same concerns voiced by your husband. Unfortunately your husband is probably seeing more than his fair share of people using social media in criminal ways. But I think engaging and managing social media may be an important part of literacy in the future.
Chris Harbeck Said:
on September 30, 2009 at 12:41 am
Kids are already using this technology at home. How many of their parents are using the technology and understand what their students are doing. If we are not going to educate the students about leaving a positive digital footprint who will.
Kids love technology and with an audience they will do more than you ever imagined.
dennisar Said:
on September 30, 2009 at 12:47 am
Hi,
I just posted Internet Safety Resources for Schools: http://bit.ly/4zmFab. Very positive suggestions and insights in these resources. Good luck.
Dennis Richards
starkg Said:
on September 30, 2009 at 1:03 am
Hi Angela!
I understand your concern – that is why I didn’t use any personal pictures or mention the names of my spouse and children in my introductory video or on my blog. I know that this is a learning atmosphere, yet because our information is out there for anyone to see I felt precautions were in order. It is a quandry… I guess my solution is to only upload information I am willing to share and treat it like a conversation with people I have never met. I think as an overprotective parent
I would need a lot of information about what information would be used before I would allow my child to participate.
What about others out there?
Shawn Said:
on September 30, 2009 at 1:45 am
Should our great-grandparents have been afraid to get in a car because it was more dangerous than walking or riding a horse? Should your husband not carry a gun because it can bring on dangerous situations? There is good and bad with most everything. We must evaluate and understand all risks in our lives but also balance those with the benefits. Children raised in a bubble are more apt to contract a deadly virus.
Start researching digital storytelling. Make sure you visit Wes Fryer’s writings and family blog. He is concerned with safety, but at the same time has opened a world of opportunity for his children. They inherently love to learn. That is exciting!
Cindy Seibel Said:
on September 30, 2009 at 3:45 am
I’m all for a debate based on data. I wrote about what happens when we argue about internet safety based on emotions – http://blog.tech4learning.ca/2008/02/the-emotion-charged-debate-about-internet-safety/ There is much we all need to learn about the perils (which I would bet your husband is schooled in) and the benefits of social media. But rather than not participating, let us learn how to be informed consumers and democratic particpants in these spaces.
Penny Said:
on September 30, 2009 at 4:29 am
Andrea,
Judging by the stream on Twitter I am guessing that you are going to receive many responses to this post, but I’d like to add a parent voice to the chorus. As a parent I embrace this type of learning in my own life and regularly help my children (who are 9, 7 and 4–well not so much the 4yo) explore these spaces as well. I hope through my own exploration of SM, I will be better able to guide my children to utilize this amazing resource safely, effectively and responsibly.
However I can’t do this job alone. It takes a whole community of caring adults to teach children how to navigate their way in this world (online included).
I understand the initial trepidation that you must feel as you begin this journey but as a parent I”m asking that you continue. It is the only way that you can truly understand both tremendous potential and possible pitfalls and help guide the children in your charge.
So yes — I would embrace this type of learning at school — I would actually rejoice in it because it would mean that I wouldn’t have to go it alone anymore.
Penny
if you would like to explore my ramblings on this subject further http://tinyurl.com/4hs29t
John Finch Said:
on September 30, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Hi Gottsela:
I understand your concerns and those of your husband but am concerned that a lot of these concerns are not supported by the actual research that has been carried out in this area. I would guide you to the following document and draw your attention to Appendix C, which is a literature review of many studies relating to student safety and privacy while using the internet, both at home and at school http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/sites/cyber.law.harvard.edu/files/ISTTF_Final_Report.pdf
Appendix C was prepared by the Berkman Centerfor Internet and Society at Harvard University and goes beyond the hyperbole that exists around this topic.
We need to educate students on how to use the social network tools they have available to them in ethical and responsible ways. Not teaching students about this and not learning from our students does a great disservice to them and to teachers as well.
We always have two ways to deal with issues such as the ones you identify – legislate or educate – and as teachers, we should always lean toward the educate. We need not only educate our students but also ourselves.
Sue Said:
on September 30, 2009 at 11:07 pm
I’ve already left a comment but thought I would share this site with you – Social media an inviting target for cybercriminals
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/09/28/dcot.socialmedia.privacy/index.html
Again, I love social media, but one needs to know where to be cautious.
AuroraLee Said:
on October 6, 2009 at 3:53 pm
My thoughts on privacy online is that it is not to be taken lightly, but that shouldn’t stop someone from participating in everything the internet has to offer!
I’m careful about where I post my photo. I think about what I post online – anyone can see this from my intended audience to my parents, boss, criminals. so I keep what I would keep private in RL private online and I try not to post very personal information. Some services I will stay away from – such as Google, or online backups.
When it comes to children, I think their photos should not be online and they should be monitored of course. Teaching children AND adults the tools available to them to participate online while staying safe (posting tips, privacy settings etc.) is key.
All of these problems were around before the internet, just in a different form.
What about those magazine renewal postcards that you wrote your CC number of and sent without an envelope? If anything I think the internet has simply brought security and privacy out into the open for people to learn from.
sean Said:
on October 7, 2009 at 12:06 am
i am quite open online. no big deal to me. i use my real name and i am not sure why i should fear this. if i am going to be scared of someone hurting me then i am far more likely to be scared of someone who lives near me being upset because my dog did his business in the wrong yard. or, what better way to find someone nearby than to use a phone book? there you will find my name, address and my phone number. oh my! online, you’ll just find my name and photo to go with my thoughts and nothing much more, but a person i may really make upset might live 4,000 miles away. very, very little chance that i’d write anything to upset someone enough to fly 4,000 to try and find me (or upset anyone at all for that matter). regarding my kids, i am again far more likely to be concerned with the world around us rather than the online world. we sometimes hear about something bad happening to a kid because of an online predator, but there are tens and tends of millions of kids online and those online predator cases are rare proportionately. so many more kids are harmed by people nearby than from online bad people that the online bad stuff is barely a blip on most radars. i am not suggesting to go willy nilly online, but i’d certainly put it low on my list of safety concerns.
gottsela Said:
on October 7, 2009 at 12:35 am
Thanks for the honesty!
Digital Footprints in the Sands of Time Said:
on October 7, 2009 at 3:36 am
[...] Gottsela touched on similar issues as she explored what should be posted online. Her post generated several comments on issues of privacy and risk. What should we post if it is accessible by anyone? And forever? [...]
Rocks Tops Said:
on December 28, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Cool blog!
Rock Tops Granite