The Big Data Dilemma

DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP | GRADE 9

commonsense.org/education

Shareable with attribution for noncommercial use. Remixing is permitted.

Essential Question

What are the benefits �and drawbacks of online tracking?

commonsense.org/education

Shareable with attribution for noncommercial use. Remixing is permitted.

Learning Objectives

Define online tracking and describe how companies use it.�

Identify the benefits and drawbacks of online tracking to both companies and users.

​

Adjusting your privacy settings on your phone to limit tracking

​

​

​

l

2

3

commonsense.org/education

Shareable with attribution for noncommercial use. Remixing is permitted.

WATCH + DISCUSS

Watch the Video (4:40)

​

Classroom Discussion 2 min:

• What examples of online tracking does the video show?

commonsense.org/education

Shareable with attribution for noncommercial use. Remixing is permitted.

KEY VOCABULARY

Online tracking

Apps, websites, or third parties collecting information about your online activity (other sites you visit, links you click, how long you stay, etc.)

commonsense.org/education

Shareable with attribution for noncommercial use. Remixing is permitted.

KEY VOCABULARY

Third party

A company other than the company that owns the website or app you're using

commonsense.org/education

Shareable with attribution for noncommercial use. Remixing is permitted.

KEY VOCABULARY

Targeted advertising

Websites or apps selling you something based on information they have collected about you

commonsense.org/education

Shareable with attribution for noncommercial use. Remixing is permitted.

KEY VOCABULARY

Cookies

Small text files stored on a computer that keep track of what a person does on a website

commonsense.org/education

Shareable with attribution for noncommercial use. Remixing is permitted.

KEY VOCABULARY

Personalized content

Online information tailored to you by websites and apps based on your behavior and preferences about you

commonsense.org/education

Shareable with attribution for noncommercial use. Remixing is permitted.

​

​

ACTIVITY: It’s not all bad, is it?

​

​

​

Brainstorm with a partner (2 mins)

​

Share as a classroom (2 mins)��

What benefits of online tracking can you think of?

Benefits for Users?

Benefits for Companies?

commonsense.org/education

Shareable with attribution for noncommercial use. Remixing is permitted.

ACTIVITY: CLASS DISCUSSION

Did you think of these benefits for Companies?

​

1. The more data that a company can collect, the more valuable it is.
2. Companies earn lots of revenue by allowing targeted advertising.

commonsense.org/education

Shareable with attribution for noncommercial use. Remixing is permitted.

ACTIVITY: CLASS DISCUSSION

Did you think of these benefits for USERS?

​

• Connected devices can work better because they can predict and meet your needs automatically.
• Personalized content can make using an app or a website easier and more rewarding.
• Targeted ads will be more relevant for you
• Companies earn lots of revenue by allowing targeted advertising. They reinvest this money in creating products we all love, like Google Maps.

commonsense.org/education

Shareable with attribution for noncommercial use. Remixing is permitted.

3. Strategies for limiting tracking

Action (5 min):

• On your smartphone, search for the Privacy settings
• Can you locate how to disable tracking for ads, change cookies settings…

Reflect as a group (2 min):

• What did you learn?

commonsense.org/education

Shareable with attribution for noncommercial use. Remixing is permitted.

commonsense.org/education

Shareable with attribution for noncommercial use. Remixing is permitted.