If you have access, watch The Social Dilemma on Netflix and comment on how Web 2.0 (the social web) has influenced our lives in positive and negative ways and how this might implicate (or has implicated) our schools and society
Well…that was scary. I just finished watching “The Social Dilemma” on Netflix and it honestly made me want to delete my social media. I know…WAY easier said than done. Why? Because it is the “drug” that I am addicted to. I never put much thought into any of this before. However, when you do, it is really freaky! Every single thing we do online is tracked. In the show, they made a comment about how when you are on Facebook, you are dealing with “someone” who knows every little thing about you, and you know nothing about them. We could be sitting beside our friend and log onto Facebook at the same time, and see two completely different “worlds.” Why? Because our devices and internet track us and our uses. It calculates our interests and our next move. The craziest part about all of this is how rich these internet companies are! How do they make their money? Off of us of course! They make their money by creating this strong drug that we are all, in some way or another, completely addicted to.
So, how in the world is this a positive thing? Well, first of all. Web 2.0 has allowed us to connect with people from all over the world. We connect with friends, followers, family members on a daily basis. We share photos, news, recipes, etc. This gives us a voice. We can collaborate through blogs, Facebook, etc., (literally what we are doing right now!). I can share my own ideas with people. I can share photos. I can look at other people’s ideas to gain understanding. At the touch of a few buttons, we can have our questions answered for us instantly. I can find news articles, updates on the weather/road conditions. With another few clicks, I could plan my next vacation. I can educate myself on whatever I choose. Web 2.0 has drastically changed all of our worlds…and yes, in all of these positive ways. Our students use Web 2.0 to research and answer the questions they may have. They communicate and collaborate with each other online. Web 2.0 has changed all of our lives in all of these positive ways! But, as we know, there is a flip side as well. Let’s dig into the negatives…
I think the first “negative” of this whole this has already been mentioned…we are literally being tracked and stalked in everything that we do online. Anything we look up, anything we start to type, even how many seconds we look at a certain photo for. This was mind blowing to me! “You’re easily manipulated” by Facebook and other apps like Instagram. “We aren’t actually being constructive individuals.” Why? Because you are only seeing what you want to see. YOU pick your friends. YOU pick your followers. YOU pick what you are interested in. The documentary then goes on to explain how this creates this false sense and reality that everyone agrees with you and thinks the same. Yet, we all have different “realities” online. How does this affect our students and schools? Well, as I mentioned above, our students can easily access the internet. They can have their questions answered at the click of a button and easily do research on different topics. However, I now see just how easily fake news is spread. Especially since we are all seeing different “news” articles and it is all based on what we want to believe and see as individuals. Obviously, the privacy of our students is a priority. But, how can we protect them from this “drug” if we cannot even protect ourselves? Lastly, Web 2.0 makes communication easy! Students can share ideas, thoughts and photos with each other online. This also makes bullying a huge issue. Cyberbullying is more of an issue now than ever before. How can we put a stop to this? How can we protect our students’ mental health, privacy and ultimately, protect them from this “drug?”
Mrs. Fuchs' Blog 
Hey Erin, great post! Social Media is definitely addicting. We just got our 12 year old his first phone, and I always thought he at times struggled paying attention to what I was saying, must of just been me because the struggle to get him to put that away is real. This year, I created a Google Classroom for my Grade 6 students in Health class all about Digital Citizenship. We just are wrapping it up, and the conversations we have had about their tech use and how we can safely navigate the online world has been awesome. I will definitely be using it again in the future to help navigate some of the online concerns they can face.
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Hey Erin!
This blog post wonderfully encapsulates the urgent need to address the complex challenges facing students in the digital age. The questions you raised prompt reflection on the collective responsibility we share in ensuring the safety and well-being of students online. It’s clear that proactive measures are necessary to protect our students from harm. Connecting with people all over the world is such a powerful way for students to build positive relationships with others while also gaining insight into the lives of people of different ethnicities, beliefs, ways of living, etc. Hopefully the benefits will outweigh the negatives.
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Thanks for the post Erin! I agree with you that after watching this documentary really made me step back and think about how I am using these platforms in my classroom. Something that really got to me was the idea that where you live is a key factor in what type of information pops up for your Google search. What a challenge we are all faced with when we are continuously debating what is real and what is fake, and now we have to teach our students to navigate this as well!
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Hey great post !!This thoughtful blog article skillfully conveys the urgent need to address the complex issues that pupils are facing in the digital age. Your insightful questions provoke deeper contemplation on our shared accountability for ensuring students’ online safety and well being. It is clear that preventative action is necessary to protect our students from potential risks in the digital environment.
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