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Let’s turn our digital natives into digital citizens | Anne Mette Thorhauge | TEDxCopenhagenSalon


thank you

thank you I hope you all had a nice rest so you

I hope you all had a nice rest so you

I hope you all had a nice rest so you are ready to take in some new ideas so

are ready to take in some new ideas so

are ready to take in some new ideas so and mine is going to start with a story

and mine is going to start with a story

and mine is going to start with a story some years ago I gave birth to my twins

some years ago I gave birth to my twins

some years ago I gave birth to my twins at a hospital in Copenhagen and it was a

at a hospital in Copenhagen and it was a

at a hospital in Copenhagen and it was a planned cesarean but it turned into an

planned cesarean but it turned into an

planned cesarean but it turned into an emergent one so I was kind of exhausted

emergent one so I was kind of exhausted

emergent one so I was kind of exhausted when I woke up in my hospital bed a few

when I woke up in my hospital bed a few

when I woke up in my hospital bed a few hours after the operation in came the

hours after the operation in came the

hours after the operation in came the older siblings to welcome the new ones

older siblings to welcome the new ones

older siblings to welcome the new ones in through the world and of course to

in through the world and of course to

in through the world and of course to take a photo on their smartphones so

take a photo on their smartphones so

take a photo on their smartphones so imagine my surprise when I logged onto

imagine my surprise when I logged onto

imagine my surprise when I logged onto Facebook a few weeks later and found a

Facebook a few weeks later and found a

Facebook a few weeks later and found a photo of myself in a hospital bed with

photo of myself in a hospital bed with

photo of myself in a hospital bed with tubes and puffy eyes and everything it

tubes and puffy eyes and everything it

tubes and puffy eyes and everything it turned out that my teenage boy had

turned out that my teenage boy had

turned out that my teenage boy had uploaded this photo and tech me so that

uploaded this photo and tech me so that

uploaded this photo and tech me so that my entire international network friends

my entire international network friends

my entire international network friends family colleagues professors from all

family colleagues professors from all

family colleagues professors from all over the world would receive a

over the world would receive a

over the world would receive a notification about it and I can laugh

notification about it and I can laugh

notification about it and I can laugh about it now but I couldn’t back then so

about it now but I couldn’t back then so

about it now but I couldn’t back then so I called him and I asked him as calmly

I called him and I asked him as calmly

I called him and I asked him as calmly as I possibly could to take down that

as I possibly could to take down that

as I possibly could to take down that photo immediately and he was heard he

photo immediately and he was heard he

photo immediately and he was heard he said that this was an act of love and

said that this was an act of love and

said that this was an act of love and affection and he took my request as a

affection and he took my request as a

affection and he took my request as a rejection of that he just couldn’t see

rejection of that he just couldn’t see

rejection of that he just couldn’t see the problem you know he was the digital

the problem you know he was the digital

the problem you know he was the digital native right he was supposed to know

native right he was supposed to know

native right he was supposed to know that it’s all media but he didn’t so

that it’s all media but he didn’t so

that it’s all media but he didn’t so fast forward a few years as the chair of

fast forward a few years as the chair of

fast forward a few years as the chair of the Danish media Council I’m reading a

the Danish media Council I’m reading a

the Danish media Council I’m reading a report about the way young Danes hand

report about the way young Danes hand

report about the way young Danes hand their privacy online it contains a lot

their privacy online it contains a lot

their privacy online it contains a lot of interviews with young people and it

of interviews with young people and it

of interviews with young people and it concludes that when it comes to privacy

concludes that when it comes to privacy

concludes that when it comes to privacy in relation to friends and to family

in relation to friends and to family

in relation to friends and to family these young people are very clever

these young people are very clever

these young people are very clever indeed they know exactly how to keep

indeed they know exactly how to keep

indeed they know exactly how to keep their parents noses out of their party

their parents noses out of their party

their parents noses out of their party life however when it comes to privacy in

life however when it comes to privacy in

life however when it comes to privacy in relation to platforms service providers

relation to platforms service providers

relation to platforms service providers they have almost no concept for that as

they have almost no concept for that as

they have almost no concept for that as one of those young men said I don’t

one of those young men said I don’t

one of those young men said I don’t think Facebook wants to harm me think

think Facebook wants to harm me think

think Facebook wants to harm me think about that

about that

about that I don’t think Facebook wants to harm me

I don’t think Facebook wants to harm me

I don’t think Facebook wants to harm me they just couldn’t see the problem so

they just couldn’t see the problem so

they just couldn’t see the problem so apparently it was not just my teenage

apparently it was not just my teenage

apparently it was not just my teenage boy being a digital native is not enough

young people born into the digital age

young people born into the digital age we call digital natives those of us

we call digital natives those of us

we call digital natives those of us before porn before then we call digital

before porn before then we call digital

before porn before then we call digital immigrants this distinction creates a

immigrants this distinction creates a

immigrants this distinction creates a belief that the young people have a

belief that the young people have a

belief that the young people have a privileged knowledge of the media that

privileged knowledge of the media that

privileged knowledge of the media that we as immigrants will never be able to

we as immigrants will never be able to

we as immigrants will never be able to possess and that for the same reason we

possess and that for the same reason we

possess and that for the same reason we should look to what the young people if

should look to what the young people if

should look to what the young people if we want to understand the future of the

we want to understand the future of the

we want to understand the future of the media they lead the way I stand here

media they lead the way I stand here

media they lead the way I stand here today to challenge that belief because

today to challenge that belief because

today to challenge that belief because understanding the media it’s not the

understanding the media it’s not the

understanding the media it’s not the same sorry using the media it’s not the

same sorry using the media it’s not the

same sorry using the media it’s not the same thing as understanding the media

same thing as understanding the media

same thing as understanding the media and maybe understanding the media is not

and maybe understanding the media is not

and maybe understanding the media is not even enough the first mistake builds on

even enough the first mistake builds on

even enough the first mistake builds on the premise that using a technology for

the premise that using a technology for

the premise that using a technology for many hours will may will lead to a

many hours will may will lead to a

many hours will may will lead to a deeper understanding of that technology

deeper understanding of that technology

deeper understanding of that technology if this was really the case

if this was really the case

if this was really the case we would all be television engineers by

we would all be television engineers by

we would all be television engineers by now wouldn’t we we would all be experts

now wouldn’t we we would all be experts

now wouldn’t we we would all be experts into the business models that govern

into the business models that govern

into the business models that govern television the television industry but

television the television industry but

television the television industry but we aren’t because watching television

we aren’t because watching television

we aren’t because watching television will not turn you into an expert and in

will not turn you into an expert and in

will not turn you into an expert and in the same manner using social media 24/7

the same manner using social media 24/7

the same manner using social media 24/7 will not give you a deeper understanding

will not give you a deeper understanding

will not give you a deeper understanding of those media either that knowledge

of those media either that knowledge

of those media either that knowledge comes from somewhere else however I

comes from somewhere else however I

comes from somewhere else however I would like to take this argument one

would like to take this argument one

would like to take this argument one step further because even even if one or

step further because even even if one or

step further because even even if one or two of those digital natives should gain

two of those digital natives should gain

two of those digital natives should gain such knowledge it wouldn’t even be

such knowledge it wouldn’t even be

such knowledge it wouldn’t even be enough it wouldn’t be enough because

enough it wouldn’t be enough because

enough it wouldn’t be enough because some of those challenges that digital

some of those challenges that digital

some of those challenges that digital technology’s opposing today cannot be

technology’s opposing today cannot be

technology’s opposing today cannot be met by individual media users being a

met by individual media users being a

met by individual media users being a little more careful they have to be met

little more careful they have to be met

little more careful they have to be met by critical citizens co-creating the

by critical citizens co-creating the

by critical citizens co-creating the future so forget the digital natives

future so forget the digital natives

future so forget the digital natives we need dated cyl citizens I will take

we need dated cyl citizens I will take

we need dated cyl citizens I will take online privacy as my point of

online privacy as my point of

online privacy as my point of illustration I suppose everyone in here

illustration I suppose everyone in here

illustration I suppose everyone in here cares about their online privacy right

cares about their online privacy right

cares about their online privacy right hmm yes so tell me how many of you

hmm yes so tell me how many of you

hmm yes so tell me how many of you actually changed the default settings in

actually changed the default settings in

actually changed the default settings in Facebook’s custom privacy interface

Facebook’s custom privacy interface

Facebook’s custom privacy interface quite a few of you I see tell me then

quite a few of you I see tell me then

quite a few of you I see tell me then those of you who could answer yes to

those of you who could answer yes to

those of you who could answer yes to this does it make any difference not

this does it make any difference not

this does it make any difference not much you know at least it will change

much you know at least it will change

much you know at least it will change nothing about the fact that Facebook can

nothing about the fact that Facebook can

nothing about the fact that Facebook can access your data at any time so what is

access your data at any time so what is

access your data at any time so what is it that Facebook can do with your data I

it that Facebook can do with your data I

it that Facebook can do with your data I suppose the answer to that question can

suppose the answer to that question can

suppose the answer to that question can be found in the end-user License

be found in the end-user License

be found in the end-user License agreement right so that is my next nasty

agreement right so that is my next nasty

agreement right so that is my next nasty question for you how many of you

question for you how many of you

question for you how many of you actually read that document to the end

well

well neither did I I only only came through

neither did I I only only came through

neither did I I only only came through the first few lines myself like those

the first few lines myself like those

the first few lines myself like those young people I I just gave up because

young people I I just gave up because

young people I I just gave up because how was I supposed to respond to that

how was I supposed to respond to that

how was I supposed to respond to that information then why was it even

information then why was it even

information then why was it even important

important

important oops I’m sorry no more nasty questions

oops I’m sorry no more nasty questions

oops I’m sorry no more nasty questions so I’m going to answer this one myself

so I’m going to answer this one myself

so I’m going to answer this one myself first of all why is it even important

first of all why is it even important

first of all why is it even important that Facebook can access your dates at

that Facebook can access your dates at

that Facebook can access your dates at any time people tend to think of this in

any time people tend to think of this in

any time people tend to think of this in terms of the nosy detective in some tag

terms of the nosy detective in some tag

terms of the nosy detective in some tag office somewhere

office somewhere

office somewhere flipping through your private photos and

flipping through your private photos and

flipping through your private photos and with that metaphor in mind they conclude

with that metaphor in mind they conclude

with that metaphor in mind they conclude that Facebook probably doesn’t have

that Facebook probably doesn’t have

that Facebook probably doesn’t have enough employees to spy on all of their

enough employees to spy on all of their

enough employees to spy on all of their two billion uses and that is a very

two billion uses and that is a very

two billion uses and that is a very plausible conclusion as that young men

plausible conclusion as that young men

plausible conclusion as that young men said I don’t think Facebook wants to

said I don’t think Facebook wants to

said I don’t think Facebook wants to harm me however this is not about some

harm me however this is not about some

harm me however this is not about some facebook employee judging you this is

facebook employee judging you this is

facebook employee judging you this is about a machine algorithm class and

about a machine algorithm class and

about a machine algorithm class and categorizing you and you may end up in

categorizing you and you may end up in

categorizing you and you may end up in all sorts of categories you could end up

all sorts of categories you could end up

all sorts of categories you could end up in the category of people who are likely

in the category of people who are likely

in the category of people who are likely to have more than two weeks of sick

to have more than two weeks of sick

to have more than two weeks of sick leave every year or you could end up in

leave every year or you could end up in

leave every year or you could end up in the category of people who will probably

the category of people who will probably

the category of people who will probably need an insurance payment on their car

need an insurance payment on their car

need an insurance payment on their car within the next five years this is

within the next five years this is

within the next five years this is valuable information I bet quite a few

valuable information I bet quite a few

valuable information I bet quite a few of your future employers and insurance

of your future employers and insurance

of your future employers and insurance companies

companies

companies like to pay money for that information

like to pay money for that information

like to pay money for that information and what’s even worse you cannot figure

and what’s even worse you cannot figure

and what’s even worse you cannot figure it out

it out

it out this analysis could be based on any

this analysis could be based on any

this analysis could be based on any puzzle possible combination of data on

puzzle possible combination of data on

puzzle possible combination of data on your Facebook profile it could be your

your Facebook profile it could be your

your Facebook profile it could be your login pattern in combination with some

login pattern in combination with some

login pattern in combination with some key persons in your network in

key persons in your network in

key persons in your network in combination with something you liked

combination with something you liked

combination with something you liked three years ago you cannot figure it out

three years ago you cannot figure it out

three years ago you cannot figure it out so you cannot act on it so this is why

so you cannot act on it so this is why

so you cannot act on it so this is why claiming that you have solved your

claiming that you have solved your

claiming that you have solved your privacy issue on facebook by being a

privacy issue on facebook by being a

privacy issue on facebook by being a little more careful with the photos that

little more careful with the photos that

little more careful with the photos that you upload

you upload

you upload it’s like claiming that you are only

it’s like claiming that you are only

it’s like claiming that you are only slightly pregnant you know just a tiny

slightly pregnant you know just a tiny

slightly pregnant you know just a tiny bit it’s not going to change anything

bit it’s not going to change anything

bit it’s not going to change anything about the situation right so how do we

about the situation right so how do we

about the situation right so how do we respond to it then do we read the

respond to it then do we read the

respond to it then do we read the end-user License Agreement I’m sorry

end-user License Agreement I’m sorry

end-user License Agreement I’m sorry there is nothing in that document that

there is nothing in that document that

there is nothing in that document that keeps Facebook from selling that

keeps Facebook from selling that

keeps Facebook from selling that analysis afterall is not your data they

analysis afterall is not your data they

analysis afterall is not your data they are selling right

are selling right

are selling right it’s the analysis and besides you cannot

it’s the analysis and besides you cannot

it’s the analysis and besides you cannot really negotiate it you can either agree

really negotiate it you can either agree

really negotiate it you can either agree or you can delete your account so the

or you can delete your account so the

or you can delete your account so the real root problem is this we cannot

real root problem is this we cannot

real root problem is this we cannot handle our online privacy as individual

handle our online privacy as individual

handle our online privacy as individual media users by reading the end-user

media users by reading the end-user

media users by reading the end-user License Agreement the problem is not

License Agreement the problem is not

License Agreement the problem is not that the young people haven’t read it

that the young people haven’t read it

that the young people haven’t read it the problem is that they know it’s not

the problem is that they know it’s not

the problem is that they know it’s not worth the effort so what is it that I

worth the effort so what is it that I

worth the effort so what is it that I want I want you to know I want us to

want I want you to know I want us to

want I want you to know I want us to know that we can act if we manage to

know that we can act if we manage to

know that we can act if we manage to turn that AI into a Wii I want us to

turn that AI into a Wii I want us to

turn that AI into a Wii I want us to remember that our political systems our

remember that our political systems our

remember that our political systems our age-old responses

age-old responses

age-old responses to that particular problem that there

to that particular problem that there

to that particular problem that there are challenges we cannot meet alone and

are challenges we cannot meet alone and

are challenges we cannot meet alone and that the principles that govern our

that the principles that govern our

that the principles that govern our democratic systems apply on the Internet

democratic systems apply on the Internet

democratic systems apply on the Internet as well one of those principles is the

as well one of those principles is the

as well one of those principles is the idea that we as citizens have basic

idea that we as citizens have basic

idea that we as citizens have basic rights that cannot be written off by

rights that cannot be written off by

rights that cannot be written off by checking a box on a home page and one of

checking a box on a home page and one of

checking a box on a home page and one of those rights is the right to privacy so

those rights is the right to privacy so

those rights is the right to privacy so privacy is not an individual

privacy is not an individual

privacy is not an individual responsibility privacy’s written into

responsibility privacy’s written into

responsibility privacy’s written into the law and the law should be respected

the law and the law should be respected

the law and the law should be respected by companies and cooperation no matter

by companies and cooperation no matter

by companies and cooperation no matter their country of the region so in fact

their country of the region so in fact

their country of the region so in fact this is about knowing your rights as a

this is about knowing your rights as a

this is about knowing your rights as a citizen we should walk toward our

citizen we should walk toward our

citizen we should walk toward our political representatives and ask them

political representatives and ask them

political representatives and ask them how those rights are being upheld and

how those rights are being upheld and

how those rights are being upheld and negotiated in the light of changing

negotiated in the light of changing

negotiated in the light of changing technologies thanks to those same

technologies thanks to those same

technologies thanks to those same technologies they are only an email away

technologies they are only an email away

technologies they are only an email away actually some of them are sitting in

actually some of them are sitting in

actually some of them are sitting in here today so why not approach them and

here today so why not approach them and

here today so why not approach them and ask them how they are handling this task

ask them how they are handling this task

ask them how they are handling this task you might have particular concerns or

you might have particular concerns or

you might have particular concerns or suggestions we have to take back control

suggestions we have to take back control

suggestions we have to take back control and this is not just about privacy I

and this is not just about privacy I

and this is not just about privacy I have used privacy as my point of

have used privacy as my point of

have used privacy as my point of illustration but in fact this is about

illustration but in fact this is about

illustration but in fact this is about where the world is going because we live

where the world is going because we live

where the world is going because we live in the world that is changing due to the

in the world that is changing due to the

in the world that is changing due to the transformative powers of digital

transformative powers of digital

transformative powers of digital technologies and we keep talking about

technologies and we keep talking about

technologies and we keep talking about these changes in ways that

these changes in ways that

these changes in ways that systematically downplay our agency as

systematically downplay our agency as

systematically downplay our agency as citizens and emphasize technology as an

citizens and emphasize technology as an

citizens and emphasize technology as an agent in its own right robotics

agent in its own right robotics

agent in its own right robotics will disrupt our work markets this is

will disrupt our work markets this is

will disrupt our work markets this is what we are told in ways we can hardly

what we are told in ways we can hardly

what we are told in ways we can hardly imagine we better prepare ourselves for

imagine we better prepare ourselves for

imagine we better prepare ourselves for a future that is rumbling towards us but

a future that is rumbling towards us but

a future that is rumbling towards us but this is wrong because you know the

this is wrong because you know the

this is wrong because you know the future is not a train it has no mass it

future is not a train it has no mass it

future is not a train it has no mass it is not subject to gravity so it cannot

is not subject to gravity so it cannot

is not subject to gravity so it cannot really rumble anywhere can it in fact it

really rumble anywhere can it in fact it

really rumble anywhere can it in fact it doesn’t exist because the future is the

doesn’t exist because the future is the

doesn’t exist because the future is the product of the actions and the decisions

product of the actions and the decisions

product of the actions and the decisions that we are making right now so we

that we are making right now so we

that we are making right now so we should stop talking about technology and

should stop talking about technology and

should stop talking about technology and the future something that happens by

the future something that happens by

the future something that happens by itself and stop talking about it so

itself and stop talking about it so

itself and stop talking about it so let’s start talking about where we want

let’s start talking about where we want

let’s start talking about where we want it to go it is us as citizens who should

it to go it is us as citizens who should

it to go it is us as citizens who should imagine the future we should decide

imagine the future we should decide

imagine the future we should decide where we want to go and how we want

where we want to go and how we want

where we want to go and how we want technology to take us there

technology to take us there

technology to take us there we should not prepare ourselves for the

we should not prepare ourselves for the

we should not prepare ourselves for the future we should actively shape this

future we should actively shape this

future we should actively shape this future and digital natives cannot do

future and digital natives cannot do

future and digital natives cannot do that this is a job for digital citizens

that this is a job for digital citizens

that this is a job for digital citizens thank you

”

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