To Trust Or Not To Trust: Internet Edition

In my latest New Literacy class, we discussed the importance of teaching and preaching online safety. There are many well known ways in which the internet can scam you, track you, etc. However, kids today are not as skeptical about the internet as adults are, and there are multiple reasons behind this.

Kids of the alpha generation were born into a world that runs on technology. The internet already existed and was flourishing by the time they were able to use a piece of technology. Due to this, they're growing up trusting that the internet is only there for good. They don't realize that behind the scenes operations, like cookies, is tracking their likes and dislikes, what they've been shopping for, or even their answers to fun quizzes that ask for their simple preferences.

Kids are also not taught what is good and what is bad on the internet. This is partially due to their parents' inexperience with the internet, and the lack of education they receive on online etiquette in school.

Kids are also not taught what's true and what's fake online. This can lead to misunderstandings, and spreading of false news. While adults are able to recognize what stories are fake and which ones are real, kids are more naive and susceptible to fake news articles that have to do with celebrities or something super extreme.

In order to prevent the next generation from being manipulated by the internet, it is our duty as educators to prepare our students for internet use outside of school, as well as in school internet use. Teaching them how to find a reliable source for both news and articles for research will prepare them not only for college, but also for life.