ACTIVE LEARNING METHODS

  

     

      Source Image: Federal Trade Commission

THE LEGAL MODULE 

Part I

The legal module is one of probably one of the least appreciated modules in the social media adventure. The reason is that laws are needed to protect us. And protection is needed because people feel threatened and unsafe. And there is a need to feel safe because there are villains.

As education becomes more and more digitalized through the use, among other things, of social media platforms, States have put laws in place to protect our children in our schools and in our libraries, two of our most important social infrastructures. 

In our educational institutions, two internet protection laws stand out:

Children Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and the Children’s Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA).

Enacted in 2000, CIPA “addresses concerns about children's access to obscene or harmful content over the Internet”. COPPA on the other hand was enacted in 1998 and “imposes certain requirements on operators of websites or online services directed to children under 13 years.”

In addition, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law  that protects the privacy of student's education records. The law applies to all schools and libraries that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

A quick look back at the time between the more regular use of internet/social media and the emergence of children internet safety laws (google appeared on the scene in 1997, Iphone 2008, Ipad 2010, and Chromebook 2011) shows a slight lag in time.

Part II

1-What are your thoughts about CIPA/COPPA?

In my opinion, CIPA laws are good laws. We know that children are not yet able to make entirely rational decisions and often depend on their feelings and therefore are in need of guidance when faced with “obscene, pornographic, or other harmful materials”. Because the technology is available to them, it is only normal that safety measures be placed to ensure that villains do not take advantage of them. 

In the same way, using COPPA to protect children under 13 from the intrinsic ways in which the information highway works is very appropriate. Indeed at 13, young adolescents are still not using their cognitive powers in decision making. Prior modules have made it clear that algorithms rule the internet and that when browsing the internet, a digital footprint is left behind. This data can be marketed, manipulated and therefore can put our children at risk of being taken advantage of. It is from all of this that CIPA and COPPA protect our children.

2-Do you think they do enough to protect children? 

CIPA requires that “the Administrative Authority must certify that the school or library is enforcing an internet safety policy that includes measures to block or filter internet access for both minors and adult to certain visual depictions.” CIPA ensures compliance by using a monetary incentive. Non compliance means ineligibility to the funding program. 

It seems to me also that it is common sense that institutions like school and libraries who by definition attend to the right education and development of children would desire to comply with CIPA and COPPA to protect their patrons.

3-Do you think 13 is the proper age that CIPA/COPPA should target? 

In order to answer this question, I did a quick search about brain development around 13 years of age. The result showed that at this age “children have a strong need to gain independence and yet yearns to be part of a peer group. They are searching to identify who they are and often use pop culture to define themselves”. I believe this is the right age to target and protect and would extend COPPA protection age group beyond 13. 

4.What about danah boyd's comment that COPPA teaches kids to lie?  

Anytime we have laws, we will have people who break the law. But this does not mean we should not have laws. We must continue enforcing laws in the hope that citizens will finally realize that laws exist to protect and keep us safe.

5. Any additional thoughts you have on privacy laws for children

My only other thought is that one of the characteristics of digitalization and social media is the rapidity with which new technologies are introduced in our lives. Often we find out too late the harm done by these technologies. Our laws need to stay up to date and even ahead of technology if that they are to effectively protect children. Here is a case where we might consider the cautionary principle by which a technology should not be disseminated unless it has been research and proven to be harmless to citizens. One is allowed to dream.