Surveillance Capitalism and the Ethics of Data Commodification
Learning about digital citizenship, including online safety, privacy, and respectful communication in digital spaces.
Key Questions
- Evaluate the claim that surveillance capitalism constitutes a fundamentally new economic logic that operates outside existing frameworks of market accountability and therefore demands new regulatory categories rather than extensions of existing ones.
- Analyze the asymmetry of informational power between platforms and users and assess whether informed consent functions as a meaningful safeguard or as a legitimising fiction for the extraction of behavioural data.
- Construct a position on whether personal data should be treated as a market commodity, a civil right, or a public good, and justify the legal and political implications that follow from each framing.
MOE Syllabus Outcomes
About This Topic
Social media ethics focuses on the responsibilities of digital citizenship and the impact of online discourse. Students discuss the ethical implications of sharing unverified information, the consequences of online anonymity, and the importance of promoting a positive digital culture. This topic is especially relevant as students spend a significant portion of their social lives online.
The curriculum encourages students to reflect on how their online actions reflect their personal and cultural values. By using their Mother Tongue to discuss digital ethics, they learn to navigate complex social situations with integrity. This topic particularly benefits from hands-on, student-centered approaches like mock trials for online behavior or collaborative creation of digital 'codes of conduct.'
Active Learning Ideas
Mock Trial: The Viral Comment
Students conduct a mock trial for a fictional character who posted a harmful comment online. They must argue the case from the perspective of the 'prosecution' (impact on victim) and 'defense' (freedom of speech) using formal Mother Tongue.
Inquiry Circle: Digital Citizenship Code
Groups work together to draft a 'Digital Code of Conduct' for their class or school. They must include specific guidelines for respectful disagreement and responsible sharing, written in their Mother Tongue.
Think-Pair-Share: The Anonymity Dilemma
Students reflect on whether people should be allowed to be anonymous online. They share their views with a partner, discussing how anonymity can both protect and harm individuals, then present a summary to the class.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Common MisconceptionWhat I do online doesn't hurt anyone in the 'real world.'
What to Teach Instead
Online actions have significant psychological and social impacts. Using case studies of cyberbullying or online scams helps students see the direct link between digital behavior and real-world harm.
Common MisconceptionIf I delete a post, it's gone forever.
What to Teach Instead
Digital content is often permanent and can be screenshotted or archived. Collaborative investigations into 'digital footprints' can help students understand the long-term nature of their online presence.
Suggested Methodologies
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Frequently Asked Questions
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