Technology has made it easier for students to remain connected to the world around them. However, the freedom to explore the web can have downsides, as privacy and personal information are constantly at risk. As such, students should be aware of their security online so they can manage their priorities.
Privacy is defined as “the withdrawal from company or public view,” according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Similarly, online privacy relates to information shared on the internet in a secure and private way. For instance, a person who uses the school’s Sapphire portal to check their grades expects it only to be visible to their teachers and parents. Still, it can be difficult to know who has access to one’s information and what they are using it for, showing how privacy can not always be expected online.
Students often share their most personal information on social media, making privacy harder because it allows people to share details about their lives publicly. As a result, there are various risks, including making it easier to track someone’s location or know a person’s background. While a private account is safer for those wanting to protect their information from being readily available to others, many keep a public account to maintain an online presence.
HAHS sophomore Addison Meilleur says that while she values online privacy, most of her accounts are public. As a precaution, she makes sure to know the people who follow her and not talk to strangers. In the past, though, her privacy was threatened when her account was hacked, and she explains, “I don’t want strangers getting my stuff and making me look bad.” A current privacy issue she wants fixed is the increase in people impersonating students. In particular, it has become more common to find accounts that falsely use one’s identity on Snapchat to mislead those who think it is run by the person it claims to be. Overall, she believes managing privacy is important, but says that “if everyone [were] private there wouldn’t be much fun.”
For more information, visit www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/maintaining-your-online-privacy.
