Blog Post #8
Hey everyone! Here are my thoughts for this week’s blog post, enjoy!
Thinking about all of the topics we considered in class, I found cyber vigilantism to be quite a discussion starter for myself! I find that recently cyber-vigilantism more specifically cyber-bullying is easier to do now than ever before. With the high rates of internet/cyber users these days, and it is starting at such a young age unfortunately there is no escaping cyber-vigilantism like cyber-bullying. Kids nowadays can stay anonymous on the internet when doing acts like bullying or committing crimes, so it’s difficult to pinpoint who exactly is doing it. Also, creating scam calls to sound real is such an easy task if you search for up voice editor and these scam calls result in serious harm to some people physically and financially. I feel like in this day and age, different acts that are considered “cyber-vigilantism” are so much easier to achieve, which is scary to think about. I know I have had my fair share of anonymous comments made about me, or scam calls I’ve picked up, however, it was not at the young age of ten, it was when I was in high school. So, it’s crazy to see the difference technology has in this day in age.
Cyber security is helpful when thinking about cyber vigilantism, but I find with how advanced technology is, one hundred percent cyber safety is almost near impossible. Obviously, not impossible, but something very hard to achieve. When I think about a good dramatic clip that shows an example of cyber vigilantism is below:
Yes, I know this is very dramatic, but it shows how cyber vigilantism can affect anyone. The hospital is under cyber attack by an online anonymous hacker and it affects the entire hospital which is not good. The video shows that cyber safety is hard to come by unless you have the right resources to deal with it (in this case … it was an ex-military dude lol) Overall, I know I rambled a bit, during this (I continue to as well) but these were just some of my thoughts on cyber vigilantism and cyber safety.
Another area I want to discuss is how early digital footprints are starting within the twenty-first century. For example, the apps and social media kids under the age of ten are starting to use. When I think about this, it always comes back to TikTok, I know someone who is a fellow teacher, and she had a TikTok made about her by one of her students. The teacher’s face was in the video, along with hateful comments and messages about the teacher. The only reason this teacher found out was that other students showed her, but thinking about how our digital footprints are starting so young reminded me of this story because the student who did this was young. As teachers yes not every student will love you, but it starts to get scary with the internet involved where students can find things like addresses, personal information, and other information about yourself you do not make public as a teacher. This little blurb also reminded me of us in class searching our names up, thankfully my edusite was the only main thing that came up, however even saw the different personal accounts of different “Madison’s” that showed up where anyone could view. I just find it crazy how digital footprints are starting to form with even toddlers, who are users of digital tools like iPads and computers. I know there are positive sides to this as well, it is just interesting to think about how digital footprints are starting young, like TikTok and Snapchat before they turn ten, that’s insane to me.
I recently pre-interned and I visited a grade 4/5 classroom that enjoys TikTok, with this the teacher embraced it in their learning by using similar slang the kids would find on those apps, however, she found a good balance on saying stop and focus as well. I think that is also super important as a teacher, being able to connect with your students, but also know when enough is enough and it’s too far.
After reflecting on our in-class conversations, I believe everyone is entitled to have different elements of our digital footprint forgotten. I know I have done something I am not proud of on the internet, so having a right to have those moments forgotten is deserving. I may be taking this the completely wrong way, but this is how that statement resonates with me.
Anyways, thanks for listening this week and I hope you enjoyed hearing some thoughts I have had from our most recent class topics and discussions.