With the increasing use of technology in schools, there is a growing concern among parents and educators about whether or not schools are monitoring students’ internet activity. While some schools do have policies in place to monitor student searches, the extent of this monitoring varies from school to school.
What Do the Laws Say?
There are no federal laws that specifically require schools to monitor student searches. However, the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) does require schools that receive federal funding to have policies in place to protect students from online predators and other harmful content. CIPA does not require schools to monitor student searches, but it does give schools the authority to do so if they deem it necessary.
What Do the Schools Say?
A 2017 survey by the National Center for Education Statistics found that 60% of schools have policies in place to monitor student searches. Of these schools, 30% use software to monitor searches, while 20% use a combination of software and human monitoring.
The type of monitoring that a school uses will vary depending on the age of the students, the school’s budget, and the school’s concerns about student safety. Some schools may only monitor searches for certain words or phrases, while others may monitor all searches.
What Do the Students Say?
Students have mixed feelings about school monitoring of their searches. Some students feel that monitoring is an invasion of their privacy, while others feel that it is necessary to keep them safe.
A 2018 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 54% of teens believe that their schools should be able to monitor their online activity. However, 46% of teens believe that this monitoring is an invasion of their privacy.
What Should Parents Do?
Parents who are concerned about school monitoring of their child’s searches should talk to the school’s administration. Parents can also ask their child’s teachers if they are aware of any monitoring policies that are in place.
Parents can also take steps to protect their child’s privacy online. This includes talking to their child about the importance of online safety and setting limits on their child’s internet use.
What Can Schools Do?
Schools can take a number of steps to protect students’ privacy while also ensuring that they are safe online. These steps include:
- Developing clear and concise policies on student monitoring. These policies should be communicated to students and parents.
- Using software to monitor searches. This software can be used to block access to harmful content and to track student activity.
- Providing training to staff on how to monitor student searches. This training should help staff to understand the importance of privacy and to use monitoring software effectively.
- Working with parents to develop a plan for online safety. This plan can include tips on how to talk to children about online safety and how to set limits on their child’s internet use.
By following these steps, schools can help to protect students’ privacy while also ensuring that they are safe online.
Additional Tips
- Use a privacy browser. A privacy browser like DuckDuckGo or Firefox Private Browsing does not track your searches or history.
- Use a VPN. A VPN (virtual private network) encrypts your internet traffic, making it difficult for others to track your activity.
- Be aware of the risks. Before you search for something online, be aware of the risks involved. Don’t search for anything that you wouldn’t want others to see.