Teacher MarSocial Networks Don't Protect Children's Privacy
"Parents Say Social Networks Don't Protect Children's Privacy"
br<> Three of four parents don't believe social networks are doing a good enough job of protecting the privacy of their children who use those networks, according to a new survey by Common Sense Media, a nonprofit group that focuses on how media and technology affect families. The study also found that 92 percent of parents are concerned their children share too much information about themselves online. A related survey of teenagers, meanwhile, found that 79 percent feel their friends share too much information about themselves, and 85 percent believe search engines and social networks should have to get their permission before they use personal information about them to market products to them via advertising.
On a more positive note, 70 percent of the teenagers who took the survey said they manage their privacy actively, by doing such things as changing the privacy settings in various online services. That latter figure matches the data found by the Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project in a survey earlier this year, which showed that 71 percent of younger users (18 to 29) had changed their privacy settings. Sociologist Danah Boyd noted that in her research, teenagers showed themselves to be very concerned about their online privacy and reputation and take steps to manage it whenever possible.
In a meeting in Washington today with Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, and Deputy Education Secretary Anthony Miller, Common Sense Media launched a campaign called "Protect Our Privacy -- Protect Our Kids," which the group said will include the distribution of consumer tips, information, and videos to millions of homes and a new privacy curriculum for teachers. The group says it is also pushing for changes to legislation to implement a "Do Not Track Kids" policy similar to the "Do Not Call" restrictions on telemarketers.
"The industry has to listen to what parents are saying, openly acknowledge the problem, and accept an 'opt-in' policy for kids," James Steyer, founder and chief executive of Common Sense Media, said in a statement. "Parents and kids have to educate themselves about how to protect their information. Schools should teach all students and their parents about privacy protection. And finally, policymakers have to update privacy policies for the 21st century."
Source: BusinesssWeek, Business - Opinion Section - Yahoo! News. http://news.yahoo.com