Whilst there may be no single “correct” way to teach kids about privacy issues on the Internet, there are certainly many incorrect ways.
According to local news reports, a school in Plymouth, UK, are probably realising that just about now.
According to such reports, Eggbuckland community college in Plymouth is accumulating quite a bit of criticism after their decision to highlight the dangers of the Internet … by taking a photo of a pupil in her bikini – taken from her Facebook account without her permission – and showing it in an assembly packed with over 100 pupils, and then proceeding to point out said pupil – who was apparently given no forewarning of the incident.
The photo of the pupil was presumably lacking the appropriate privacy settings and staff at the school decided to highlight just how easy it was for strangers to view such images.
However broadcasting the image to other pupils – and at the same time causing much embarrassment to the pupil – was probably not the right way to go about it.
The incident would be akin to us finding beach snaps of our own followers and posting them on our Facebook page for all to see.
Don’t worry, we’re not going to do that.
The exact details of the incident have not been commented on by the school itself, and the reports of this story have come from the family of the pupil in question.
Teaching kids to be privacy aware online is absolutely critical – but embarrassing them in front of their classmates is something else entirely. Learn how to lock down your Facebook account with our ultimate Facebook privacy tutorial here.
What do you think? Do you think the school had the right to post the pupil’s photo for all to see? Let us know below or on our Facebook Page.
Further Reading: Metro.co.uk: Teenager’s anger as teacher shows picture of her in a bikini during assembly