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Parents across the world today need to have a new conversation with their kids. No, it’s not about behaving in class, not talking to strangers, or having sex. But in so many ways, it's just as important. It’s data permanence. How we can preserve our reputations in the digital era?
It’s a conversation that will look very different in different parts of the world. In some places, kids will have to think twice before posting photos of teenage escapades, given how such photos may look to others in a professional environment even many years later. In other places, kids will have to be careful of posting any items that may “dishonor” them or their family in some way.
In still other places, kids will have to think about whether what they post on sensitive political, ethnic, or religious issues may define them long after they have changed their views.
We have been having these types of important discussions with our students in digital literacy classes. What is interesting to note is that it becomes a parent piece that often schools have to provide to help them keep up with their children and the good, bad and the ugly of technology.
Data permanence must be addressed with ALL children, and well before the "sex talk"
New technologies have exposed behaviours of young people which have put their future success at risk. Are these new behaviours created by the opportunities that are provided by new technology? Or are these behaviours that would have been typical of young people even without the technologies they use as a vehicle to display them?