Student Photos: The Digital Classroom

Context

Your platform hosts many student images, often publicly accessible, potentially putting students at risk. Stricter privacy settings limit content sharing and engagement.

Dilemma

Do you:
A) Maintain current settings, prioritizing user freedom and engagement, or
B) Implement stricter defaults, prioritizing student safety?

Summary

A 15-year study of 18 million Facebook posts revealed millions of students at risk due to publicly available identifiable images, names, and locations linked to U.S. schools. Researchers found nearly 5 million identifiable student images, with most including full names. The study warns of potential misuse by harmful actors, citing child exploitation concerns. It urges governments, schools, social media platforms, and parents to take action to protect student privacy.

Resources:

• https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X221120538