Apple has been unrelenting and unwilling to allow the FBI to
gain back access to the data from the iPhone used by one of the shooters in the
San Benardino attacks in December. An
order signed by a magistrate judge has requested that Apple disable the feature
that wipes out data on the phone after
10 incorrect tries to enter a password.
If Apple would disable that
feature, the FBI would thereby be able to find the password by attempting
millions of password combinations. Apple
says that they cannot circumvent this feature.
The judge demands that Apple write software that can bypass the
feature. Apple is not willing as it
would “spell digital disaster for the trustworthiness of everyone's computers
and mobile phones.” It would violate privacy of the users.
As parents
of teens, we are constantly battling the issue of privacy in our own homes. To how much privacy are teens entitled from
their parents? In our sixth grade
Adolescent Life classes this week we discussed that one “job” of the adolescent
is to separate and individuate.
Adolescence prepares them for adulthood, when they will (hopefully)
living on their own and making their own decision. We know that it was
programmed at creation, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother...”
(Bereishit 2:24)- that at some point each person is meant to leave his/her
parents and become independent. (In our
classes, we discussed how this often creates conflict with parents, as we do
want to be independent, but we also still need them). As children get older, privacy is an integral
part of this separation. On the other
hand, we still have the responsibility to protect them.
But, does
privacy truly exist in this this social media, internet age in which we live?
An article written in a 2009 Harvard
Magazine says it all, “Exposed- The Erosion Of Privacy In The Internet Era.” Do I really need to know that you went to the
supermarket or where you bought your favorite jeans? And, teens- they share everything! As Jon Henley writes in “Are Teenagers Really
Careless About On-line Privacy?”, they
share their likes, dislikes, who they are with, and even photos of themselves
doing things they shouldn’t be. A Pew Research study on 12-17 year olds points
out that teens post the towns they live in, the schools they attend, their
email addresses, their birthdays, and even some their cellphone numbers. They simply demonstrate a “basic lack of
awareness of the potential longer-term impact of information leaks…Many younger
people just don’t think in terms of their future employability, of identity
theft, of legal problems if they are being provocative. Not to mention
straightforward reputational issues.” In
a New York Magazine article, Emily Nussbaum writes, “Kids today. They have no
sense of shame. They have no sense of
privacy. They are show-offs…who post their diaries…”
These
behaviors are actually no different from what teens always have done. “Teens are often involved in a process of
identity formation that involves not just exploring different concepts of self,
but presenting such identities to others.
That’s something they have always done- but today it’s done
electronically. Identity experimentation
has bigger privacy consequences today than for past generations.” Teens are actually less concerned about businesses
or universities seeing their data. Rather, they are more concerned about their
parents and their seeing their online use.
How does
privacy relate to our children’s e-mails, social media accounts etc? We need to strike a balance between their
privacy and our needing to know what they are doing. I do believe that it is important for parents
to carefully monitor- not spy- on their children’s internet use. What I mean is that you should actively tell
them how you are monitoring them. Upfront, when they get their first iPod or
phone you tell them what you are going to do to keep them safe.
In our parent workshop on March 1, Dr. Eli
Shapiro of the Digital Citizenship Project shared some data stating that
91% of parents say they are aware of
what their children are doing online. However, when surveying the children
themselves, only 60% of kids say their parents know what they do online. We need to be more vigilant. Some parents have programs that actually
notify them of certain key phrases that children are using that are of concern.
(Dr. Shapiro spoke of a program called VISR, which is a monitoring program that
picks up on any problematic language). We
encourage parents to know their teens’ passwords and randomly monitor their
social networking. Every so often check
their browser history. (Although some are savvy enough to erase things from the
history, it is still a good idea to check).
“Friend” your child. Be upfront
and tell your child you are doing any or all of the above to protect them. And, explain why.
Why? What should we tell
them? A recent survey of 802 parents
asked what parents are doing to oversee their child’s “digital footprint.” These are some issues on parents’ minds: a.
The amount of information advertisers learn about their child’s online
behavior. b. Children interacting online
with people they do not know. c. How the online activity of their children can
affect academic or employment opportunities.
(We often discuss with middle schoolers how even high schools are savvy
about their online activity). d. How our
children manage their reputations online.
e. Cyberbullying. I can personally attest to the terrible impact a text
or a post can make. f. Limiting the amount of time spent online which prevents children
from serious engagement in homework, interacting socially and even causes lack
of sleep.
The word “privacy” also brings
to mind “privacy settings.” As parents
we need to review our children’s privacy settings on social media. Although I am in no way a technology expert,
I found this blog at http://www.teensafe.com/blog/how-to-manage-privacy-settings-on-social-media/,
which seemed to be helpful in terms of navigating privacy settings on Facebook,
Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and Whatsapp.
How about
privacy in general, and not just online?
Teens do need more privacy and “space.”
It is normal for teens to spend more time in their rooms. However, if a
child spends hours upon hours in her room, never seems to want to talk, and is
withdrawn, that is a warning sign to investigate further. How do you determine
what is private? Assess what you “need
to know.” One does not need to listen in
on phone conversations or read his diary.
But, there also needs to be an understanding that privacy is a privilege,
not a right. If your child violates your
trust, then you need to let him/her know that you will be snooping around.
In Bamidbar
24, we notice that Bilaam, who was initially supposed to curse Bnei Yisrael,
ends up blessing them. Why? Pasuk 2 tells us, “And, Bilaam raised his eyes and
he saw Israel dwelling according to his tribes and the spirit of G-d came upon
him” to bless them. Why? The Gemara in Bava Batra 60a, quoted by Rashi, states
that he was moved to bless them because he noticed that their tents were built
with their doors not facing each other- to ensure privacy. This led to his beracha that we say
each day in Tefilla- “Ma tovu ohalecha Yaakov, mishkenotecha Yisrael”
“How good are your tents Yaakov, your dwelling places, Yisrael.” Despite living in an internet age, we know
that privacy is an important Jewish value.
Rabbeinu
Gershom, who lived about 1000 years ago, issued a cherem (ban) on
reading the private letters of another.
Rabbi Aaron Tendler states that one case in which it would be
permissible to the privacy of another would be if “doing so will help the
person whose privacy is being invaded.” Clearly
we want our individuating teens to have their privacy. Last night, I was
listening to the radio and heard a conversation about privacy (freedom) versus
security when it came to Apple’s battle. When it comes to our teens’ freedom, we want
them to have security along with their privacy.
Advisory Update
Sixth Grade- Students began a lesson on the need to feel
popular. They also had a visit from the Reflections Improv group on the topic
of peer pressure.
Seventh Grade- Students discussed the bystander effect and
why we tend to do nothing when we see injustice.
Eighth Grade- Students focused on the topic of the danger
of substance abuse with the impact it has on your brain.
No comments:
Post a Comment