LEARN ENGLISH

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jueves, 9 de abril de 2015

SELECTIVIDAD: “German Schools to Teach Online Privacy.”


Internet companies such as Facebook and Google have received repeated criticism in 1 Germany, where the government is worried about what they do with users' data. Many of Facebook's 2 million users in Germany are young people who might post pictures of themselves and their friends drunk at parties. Unfortunately, being careless about one's data has its risks. After all, potential employers also know how to use social networking tools. Now the government of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, realizing that young people are not always conscious of the dangers of revealing personal information on the Internet, is planning to teach school students how to deal with the Internet and social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. "The Internet doesn't only offer chances and opportunities, but also has risks which our students should understand in order to exercise autonomy with regard to digital media," said North Rhine-Westphalia's media minister. "Many young people are unaware of how many details they reveal about themselves online”, the minister explained. Teachers have reacted to the new plans with a mixture of interest and caution. "How to conduct oneself in the virtual world and how to use new media are already topics in our schools on a daily basis," said Michael Schulte, spokesman of the teachers union. He also fears that teachers "may not be equipped" with the necessary tools and resources for the new initiative. The state government still has to decide exactly how schools will make sure that children are prepared for the digital age, but they really want to start this program on the safe use of new media.