SMMS: Parents

Opening Icebreaker:

• What piece of technology do you remember longing for or being really excited about as a kid?
• What brought you here this evening? Is there anything you're hoping to discuss?

Agenda:

Intro:

Taking cute or funny pictures and videos of kids is nothing new — you’ve almost certainly perused family albums your parents made, or seen home videos of yourself taken at different ages and stages. But the digital world dramatically changes the context of photo and video sharing, and instantly amplifies the potential audience for the images you capture and upload. 

The Case Part 1 - Watch "David After Dentist" video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txqiwrbYGrs

Consider:

1. What’s your gut reaction to this video? 
2. Why do you think David’s father decided to share this video? 
3. Would you ever share a video like this of your kid(s)? 
4. Do you have criteria that you follow on what to share when it comes to content that showcases your kids? 
5. Do you have the same approach on all of your social media accounts, or are you more comfortable sharing on some sites than others? Why or why not? 
6. Take a minute to think about your approach to sharing (or not sharing) pictures or videos of your kids online. Has it changed at all over the past few years? Why or why not?

Read the following two perspectives, shared as part of The New York Times’ “Room for Debate” edition on Children and Digital Privacy 2 .

The authors are responding to the following question:

 Is sharing videos and pictures a violation of a child’s right to privacy, or a simple act to  remain connected to friends and family?

"Give your Children a Chance at Privacy" by Amy Webb

and

"A Visit to the Dentist, A World of Fun" by David Devore (David's dad)

Consider:

1. Which response do you relate more closely to? What do you appreciate in each of the responses? 
2. David writes, “Each parent needs to step in and decide what’s right for their child.” Other parents, however, argue that when parents post pictures of their kids, they deprive the child of the opportunity to make decisions for himself or herself. What do you think falls under the parents’ rights to share online versus the child’s rights to make his or her own decisions about? 
3. How do you handle other people (a family friend, a grandparent, a spouse, a camp counselor) sharing pictures of your kid online? Have you ever asked anyone to remove something or not to post it in the first place? 
4. At what age do you think kids should be able to decide whether or not their parents can post something online about them? 
5. How do you model curating a positive digital footprint for your kids?