APPS AND YOUNG USERS: WARNINGS AND SAFEGUARDS ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS

OVERVIEW

Collaboration and communication apps have become ubiquitous in everyday functioning, but there can be risks and benefits to using these web-based tools, especially for children and teens. Few would question that the Internet substantially influences children and teenagers, yet children and teens often lack the self-regulation skills needed for decision-making in the complex digital world. Applications on a smartphone can easily pull children into the digital world where cyberbullying and the constant availability of sexual content represent a potential source of stress for children. Apps historically noted as potentially dangerous for children and teens include Snapchat, Whisper, Blendr, and WhatsApp. An unfortunate reality exists where new apps are continually being developed to look harmless and to mask the more dangerous apps in use by young people. Careful oversight and monitoring by more knowledgeable parents and adults are increasingly important. The ability to block inappropriate apps and content is essential for schools, teachers, and parents.

INSTRUCTIONS

Scenario: You are viewed as an expert in educational technology and have been asked by your principal to plan and conduct a 10-minute presentation for parents on the possible dangers of social media apps targeting children. The principal’s goals are to:

• Inform parents of what is happening in the complicated digital world where children are concerned

• Demonstrate the types of challenges children are facing with actual recent news stories

• Express the importance of parental monitoring

• Equip parents with tools they can use for decision-making and monitoring.

1. For your presentation, identify three or more apps of particular concern for educators and parents. Avoid apps that are already commonly known (e.g., TikTok, Snapchat, etc.) unless you focus on a new danger recently identified in the news for these apps. Do your best to identify apps that are new on the scene. For each app identified:

• Provide a brief description along with an image of the app.

• Reveal two or three possible risks for each when used by school-age students.

• Include at least two news items as evidence of the app’s risks and dangers to children. Limit your browser search to news items published/produced within the last six months.

2. Present information from both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and your state’s attorney general to support your claims.

a. Using the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s What We Investigate link provided with this assignment, browse the podcasts, press releases, and videos for a resource (current within the past 12 months) that addresses your topic. In your presentation, insert a direct link to the FBI resources referenced.

b. Using the National Association of Attorneys General link provided with this assignment, search for your state’s attorney general website. Include the name of your state’s attorney general and contact information in your presentation. Share examples of information and news items on your attorney general’s website regarding children and Internet/social media risks. Encourage parents to contact the attorney general to recommend additional safeguards for children. In your presentation, insert a direct link to the attorney general resources referenced.

3. Discuss warnings and safeguards that should be put in place for child safety.

a. Use personal experience and current news items (published/produced within the last six months) to support the warnings and safeguards you propose.

b. Also, use current (12 months or newer) professional literature such as journal articles and research to support your claims. To do this, limit your search in the Jerry Falwell Library to dissertations, theses, and journal articles.

4. Conclude your presentation with endorsements of the best parental monitoring tool and content blocking tool.

a. It is suggested you gain actual experience with these two tools by requesting a free trial of the tools you select.

b. In your presentation, briefly defend your recommendations based on features, cost, etc.