Tutor Preparations
Useful Links:
Study on children’s online presence:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TECH/social.media/10/07/baby.pictures/
How to be safe on social media:
https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/consumer/family-safety/10-tips-protect-social-networks/
Related Articles:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/03/08/dont-post-about-me-on-social-media-children-say/?_r=1
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/nov/05/parents-posting-about-kids-share-too-much-online-facebook-paula-cocozza
Warm-up (2-3 minutes)
Use the questions to lead your student to the article topic.
Do you know a lot of people who post photos of their children online?
How do you feel when you see pictures of children on the Internet?
Unlocking Word Meanings (5 minutes)
Let your student read the items below. Confirm that he/she understood each word. Use additional info/definition/question only when necessary.
1. coin / kɔɪn / [koin] (v.) – to invent a name or word for something
Example: I am sure that the team will coin a term for this project.
Additional info: This word also refers to the metal pieces used as money.
2. privacy / ˈpraɪ və si / [PRAHY-vuh-see] (n.) – the state of being away from unwanted attention
Example: He closed the door to maintain his privacy.
Additional info: It also refers to the state of being alone or isolated (e.g. She went to her room because she needed some privacy).
3. entitle / ɛnˈtaɪt l / [en-TAHYT-l] (v.) – to give someone the right to do or own something
Example: She is entitled to her right to express her opinions.
Additional info: The word may also mean to give something a certain name of title (e.g. My favorite fairytale is entitled Peter Pan).
4. inappropriate /ˌɪn əˈproʊ pri ɪt / [in-uh-PROH-pree-it] (adj.) – not suitable for a certain situation or audience
Example: Some books are inappropriate for children.
Additional info: The word is synonymous with improper.
5. embarrass / ɛmˈbær əs / [em-BAR-uh s] (v.) – to cause someone to feel ashamed or uncomfortable
Example: The child was embarrassed by his mistake onstage.
Additional info: The word embarrassed may also be used as an adjective, meaning ashamed or flustered. (e.g. The embarrassed girl blushed).
Article (10 minutes)
Let the student read the article aloud. For the Comprehension Questions, you may:
(a) Ask the questions in between. Tell the student ahead of time when to pause from reading.
(b) Ask the questions after he or she finishes reading everything.
For words difficult to pronounce, pronunciation guides are provided beside the word.
Experts are now warning parents about the possible effects of oversharing about their kids online.
Researchers have recently raised concerns about the bad effects of “sharenting.” The term was coined by researchers from the University of Michigan to refer to the act of sharing excessively about one’s children online. According to them, it is not very likely for children to experience problems from what their parents share online. However, there is still conflict between a parent’s right to share and the child’s right to privacy.
Q: What are some of the potential risks of oversharing?
A: Photos on the Internet can be repurposed and used illegally.
While the researchers agree that parents should still be entitled to post online, they believe that parents should also be aware of its possible effects. They said that oversharing, or uploading more than what is appropriate, comes with potential risks. For instance, a photo made public on the Internet can be stolen by cybercriminals and reposted illegally in inappropriate websites. This may cause a child to be embarrassed or even bullied.
Q: What happened to the pictures of the mother’s children?
A: The pictures have been altered and shared in an inappropriate website.
To avoid the negative effects of sharing online, researchers said that parents should know the privacy policies of the social media sites they use. Parents should also select the people who see what they share. It is best for parents to avoid sharing their children’s information to the public.
The researchers also emphasized that parents should consult their children if they are comfortable before posting about them online. For example, before posting a photo, parents should ask their children if they agree to show their photos to a lot of people. A pediatrician recommends beginning to ask these questions to children aged 6 to 8 years old.
Q: What did the researchers emphasize about sharing about children online?
A: Parents must ask children if it is all right for them if their photos are seen by a lot of people.
Follow-up (optional)
Use the question below to check if your student understood the article.
What is the article all about?
Viewpoint Discussion (7-8 minutes)
Lead the discussion using the questions below.
Discussion A
·
Is it common in your country for parents to post about their kids online? Why is this the case?
·
What kind of information or photos should parents avoid posting online?
Discussion B
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Some parents overshare photos of their kids online. What are the possible effects of this on children?
·
On the other hand, what are the benefits of sharing children’s photos online?