The Pew Internet & American Life Project released its report on Teens and Social Media last month, which found that an overwhelming majority of American teens are using the Internet for social interaction – namely, sharing creations likes photos and videos, telling stories, and interacting with others.
Interestingly, the report also notes that “few teens who upload photos online consistently share them without any restrictions,” meaning that many young people in the U.S. understand how to use technology to protect their privacy online.
But are they aware of the limitations of these technologies?
Last season, the Canadian TV series Degrassi: The Next Generation tackled the question of whether online privacy really exists. Darcy, a member of the Degrassi cheerleading squad, posts racy photos of herself online but restricts access to them via password protection. (You can watch the whole episode here.) The real-world repercussions of her online activities are a reminder that “private” doesn’t necessarily mean “inaccessible”.