Enhancing Digital Parenting using Firefox and its tools

[mozfest-bot]

[ ID ] 5de9ba37-304e-4887-bfbc-76b6f75a34e7

[ Submitter's Name ] Srushtika Neelakantam

[ Submitter's Twitter ] @Srushtika

[ Space ] demystify [ Secondary Space ] youth

[ Format ] demo, learning-lab, format-not-sure

Description

The session highlights the challenges faced by parents of young kids, in setting some boundaries on their online activities. With most of the learning opportunities tied up inside the web, it’s hard to deny the kids an access to it. There is an increasing need to protect them against any harm that is possible during the time they spend online. Hence, a method which solves the parents’ concerns without overwhelming their kids, is needed. Interestingly, Firefox has just the tools. During the session, the parents will understand the need to ensure privacy for kids (and also themselves). They will also learn the various tools available with Firefox for the same. The parents will learn ways of teaching their kids about the importance of maintaining privacy online. The kids can watch a live demo of Lightbeam, which will track their simple search activity and make them realize the threats associated.

Agenda

We introduce a model underlining a privacy breach scenario in a simple real life situation.For instance, an ad that appears on a website reflecting the previous search terms on the browser.This will hint the participants to think more on the importance of privacy/security and it's negative impacts on their children, given that they are too young to understand.We will explain the parents, how to talk to their kids about privacy by drawing analogies. Kids understand that credit cards are not to be given to people we don’t know or trust, it being unsafe. This analogy can be applied to not sharing any personal information with anyone on the web.Many ads displayed on the webpages or popups that appear on clicking some useful link, are not relevant or may contain adult content.To solve this,these tools will be good to demo:1.“Ad Block Plus” add-on2. “Ghostery” add-on3.“Google search link fix” add-on4.Trust symbol (Firefox)5.Lightbeam

Participants

This session will see participation from the kids, youth and parents alike. If there is a very little audience, the hands-on demos of each of the tools can be done, by letting them use the machine and install some of the tools themselves. However, if there is a big audience, the usual drill of introducing them to privacy threats followed by a demo can be done. Although, after the explanation, few of the interested ones can be encouraged to try it out hands-on. Irrespective of the number of participants, a Q/A session would be very helpful for them.

Outcome

1. The overall expected outcome of the session would be to make the participants understand the importance of maintaining privacy online and also taking appropriate security measures to ensure the same.
2. To give the parents the tools and ways to teach their kids about maintaining their privacy and best practices when they are on the web.
3. A sense of parenthood-accomplishment to the parents when they’ll be sure to have protected their kids during their time spent on the web.
4. An enriched knowledge about behind-the-scenes of the information that flows on the web and be able to share the same with other fellow parents.

[chadsansing]

I like this and think either space is a good fit. I wonder if parts of the agenda that call for explanation could be recast as participatory activities. For example, instead of explaining what to do or not to do, could the facilitators show participants a site that has multiple privacy issues and award them points for each privacy "vulnerability" they find? Could participants look for privacy "bugs" in a game-like way and then see how Firefox features help "fix" them?

[Srushtika]

Sure ! That's a great idea. It'll be a very effective hands-on experience. But I guess it would work out to the fullest efficiency when there are a few no. of participants against just two facilitators?

[jvallera]

I agree. I like this idea and agree with Chad's suggestions. Another potential outcome could be a Teaching kit/thimble learning activity for families and parents.

[Srushtika]

Sounds great !

[EPIKhub]

I think a teaching kit that would also work in libraries would be really helpful, lots of childen go to libraries and the librarians main professional body in the UK has added privacy to its agenda.

[Srushtika]

Sure ! That sounds interesting. I shall work on it, after procuring a little more information on the library system in the UK. :)

[Srushtika]

@jvallera @EPIKhub @chadsansing I put some thought over the other potential outcomes (not already listed) based on your suggestions. These could be:

1. If the no. of participants is manageable, I can show them a website which is used by them almost everyday and ask them to pick out the privacy breaches which can be identified in the most visible manner. This would be done after the talk/demonstration/presentation of the above said idea. This will not only give them an insight on identifying common privacy threats but also to realise how they've been ignoring these in the websites they use.
2. One great outcome would be to ask suggestions from the parents who attend the session of the best practice they'll henceforth apply to teach their kids about privacy and security (i.e. after learning about it in the session). These suggestions, at the end of the fest could be compiled together in a teaching kit, which will be rich in diversity and shall include all use cases. This also means that it'll be a perfect fit for the libraries for both parents and kids.

I'm happy to build on this more :)