What does your digital tattoo look like?

“Most young people are extremely likely to leave something behind in cyberspace that will become a lot like a tattoo – something connected to them that they cannot get rid of later in life, even if they want to without a great deal of difficulty.” Born Digital (p.53)



I heard that quote after watching an interesting Google video of a TV show called Digital Age entitled, “Does anybody care about privacy anymore?” It was an interview with John Palfrey, the author of Born Digital, giving his views on privacy in our digital age. It wasn’t that anything in the interview was “new” or “enlightening” to me but rather it reminded me of how everyday I am leaving behind digital markers of myself…my shopping habits, my personal interests, my banking records and the list goes on!

On another surf through the web on privacy, I came across this “interactive” demonstration subtitled “How much information about your daily life gets recorded by big business and Big Brother?”…YOUR DIGITAL FOOTPRINT. (You really have to give it a try!) It’s another reminder of how we share little pieces of ourselves everyday without even thinking about it or knowing it!
All of this made me wonder…if I have been so unaware, how aware are the young people that are growing up in this digital age that every little thing they do “digitally” is being “recorded for posterity for generations to come”?
In this video, Digital Dossier, you get an idea of how the students we teach today are creating a digital file of themselves from the moment they are first born…






Keeping Andy’s digitally recorded life in mind…is there much we as educators can do to protect and safeguard the privacy of the digital natives we are teaching today?


Well, let’s say …YES and NO!

YES…
Fortunately, I think there’s a lot we can do and a lot that is already being done! After viewing the 3 part series of Google Videos on Privacy, I was somewhat impressed with the fact that such a large conglomeration would go to such measures to ensure the average “Googler” was afforded such degrees of privacy (if they were willing to learn about them and use them, that is!). I always feared these courses would get a bit technical but if “cookies”, IP addresses and chrome buttons is as technical as it gets, I’ll be fine! If the engineers at Google are actually trying to help us maintain a degree of privacy with our online activity when using Google, it’s the least we can do to impart this information to our students as Google is often their first choice as a search engine, both academically and personally.

Along with Google, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has also made several resolutions to help in the education and awareness of the privacy risks involved with increased online activities in children and young people. It was reassuring to know that the Canadian Government is taking action to keep up with the growing online environments and the development of their privacy practices.

Another great tool for guiding students and the general public for that matter on how to protect themselves with their online activity is through a visit to Privacy Town, created by Canada’s Office of Consumer Affairs. I found the checklists and protection guides a handy resource and user-friendly approach to informing the public of their rights and how to guard their privacy.


NO…
Unfortunately, it’s getting harder and harder to keep up with the growing social networking trends from Facebook to twitter to the next best “ning” (no pun intended). Regrettably, it’s not until after a significant breach of privacy or what I like to call a “learning moment”, that a young person realizes the impact their “social” actions have made into their ever growing digital “tattoo”. It’s refreshing to know that many educators and bloggers are looking out for our best interests with resources about privacy using Facebook such as the posting I found here.

As the video of Andy and the Digital Footprint experiment demonstrates, it’s almost impossible not to be leaving some form of your private life in cyberspace. What it amounts to, is how MUCH is given and for what PURPOSE!

Doug Johnson points out in his article, Lighting Lamps, “rights are always accompanied by responsibilities.” As 21st century learners, these children are growing up with a right to express themselves freely using the internet as a vehicle for their voice, opinions, images and other multimedia forms of expression. However with this powerful tool, they must understand that they have a responsibility to use it safely and that whatever they choose to publish digitally can be copied and shared for generations to come. Not a responsibility that should be taken lightly…by either our children or us as their caregivers!

As for my future role as a Teacher-Librarian?

The issue of privacy came to light for me in the article, “Privacy Matters” by Helen R. Adams when she raised the point that there is a “lack of understanding of or support for privacy rights for minors using library media centers.” Our discussions this week brought up this point frequently. How often do we send out notices to parents about overdue books without considering whether the students wish to share with their parents what they are currently reading? Where does the line get drawn between “keeping parents informed” and “protecting the rights of the child”?

Obviously there are some weighty issues surrounding privacy in our dealings with students and particularly in their experiences with online learning/socializing environments. If our digital natives don’t care about the “tattoo” they are leaving behind in their digital lives, I think it’s important we show them why and how they should!