FERPA 2.0

Let's face it: privacy doesn't really exist anymore. With a simple Google, Facebook, or app search, anyone can find an astounding amount of information on anyone else. Further, if the curious party is determined, plenty of websites are willing to dig into someone's life for them and present their findings for a small fee. Even scarier, the "curious party" is usually the website we enjoy using. In order to provide personalized advertisements Google and Facebook are collecting an incredible amount of data about you. 

But just because privacy as we knew it in the 20th Century isn't a reality doesn't mean that we need to completely let our guard down to the "inevitability" of someone finding and using your information for malevolent purposes. Especially as educators, we need to be vigilant in our use of Web 2.0 tools to ensure the safety and privacy of students.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, teachers may act in place of a parent or guardian to give consent to websites in order to collect personal information about students. With the power to allow students to sign up for and use websites as a part of learning, teachers need to understand the responsibility that comes with this type of power. It is incumbent upon districts, technology leaders and teachers to learn as much as they can about a particular website before allowing/requiring students to use it. 

Consider the following when encouraging students to sign up for online services (especially if they are under the age of 13:

1. Have students use an alias
2. Encourage students never to put personal information about themselves online, such as address, age, etc.
3. Continually monitor students as they participate in the online environment
4. Teach students how to interact appropriately on the web
5. Monitor students' accounts
6. Make students aware they can tell you if anything seems out of place (they clicked on something that they shouldn't have, etc.)

I think the best way to ensure privacy is protected is for teachers, parents and students establish acceptable guidelines pertaining to the use of websites that require personal information. Furthermore, teachers, parents and students need to have clear, open and ongoing communication about online activities.