Privacy+-+Privacy+Settings

PRIVACY SETTINGS (ASHLEY & BRAD)

**Description:** Privacy settings are essentially limits that can be placed on computers to establish what information can be shared with others. Privacy settings exist for protection of identity and important information. Settings for a social networking site, like Facebook for example, specify what information about a person is accessible and viewable by different parties. Web-browser settings defines what information is made available to third-parties.

**What is the impact of this issue on K-12 schools, educators, and students?** In a time when technology is rapidly becoming a more integrated aspect of our daily lives, internet safety--and privacy settings for children in particular--is becoming increasingly important. Schools are, in essence, responsible for students when students are on school property. Therefore, it is the school’s responsibility to protect students, especially on the internet. Not only do students need to be educated in how to protect themselves online, but schools and educators need to utilize filters that protect students from visiting potentially harmful sites.

**Integrating this topic into Daily Instruction:** //1// //st// //-5// //th// //grades:// While this may be too soon so teach kids about privacy settings, now is a good time to begin teaching children about what information is OK to share online, and what information should remain private. Once information is shared online, it cannot be undone! Repetition is important at this age, so every time a student uses technology the basic ideas of how to stay safe and stay away from internet strangers/potentially harmful internet sites should be reiterated. At this time, parents and teachers should be controlling student privacy settings (and they will likely be very high). //6// //th// //-12// //th// //grades:// This is the age where students are more regularly using social networking sites and browsing the internet. Students need to be taught about protecting themselves while online. Schools need to be equipped with filtering systems that help to protect students from inappropriate sites and limit the amount of information students can share while in school. Students will likely be more in control of their own privacy settings, so truly teaching kids about protecting their identity and reputations is important because parents and educators will have less control over where students visit online and what they share. **Additional Links:** __[]__/ (Internet Safety resource that includes useful educational tips and tools for schools/teachers.) __[]__ (This website covers all aspects of internet safety and could be a great tool for administrators, teachers, parents, and students alike in ensuring internet safety in schools.) __[]__ (This links teachers to the page specifically designed for educators. The site offers tips for teaching students about how to protect themselves online.) __[]__ (Updated guide to Facebook’s privacy settings.) __[]__ (A website devoted to internet privacy tools. The research-based group was actually founded in order to focus public attention to protecting privacy.)

**References:** __[]__ __[]__ __[]__  __[]__ (Cartoon 1) __[]__ (Cartoon 2)