Danah Boyd and several teens at the recent Computers, Freedom and Privacy conference in Seattle confirm what I’ve always said about teens and RFID surveillance technologies: they don’t want it and they can get around it. From the transcript of the panel discussion in Wired:

Kevin Bankston: Several schools have been implementing RFID tracking where they place a trackable chip on a badge (that kids wear). How would you and your friends react to that?

Steve: I know quite a few people who would probably, you know, stick the tag on the lavatory and skip school so the school thought they were still in the bathroom for a very long time.

Morgan: I think that there’d be a type of black market for trafficking tags. I’ll give you $5 if you take my tag to English for me. (Audience laughs)

Boyd and EFF lawyer Kevin Bankston Q&A’d the teens about their use of blogs, mobile tech and the privacy issues raised when surveillance technology meets parental concern. The result is a peek at a wired generation that encourages adults to get knowledgeable about technology and talk to their kids about privacy.

Steve: Every kid at whatever age gets “the talk” from their parents about sex. So why don’t they have a one-on-one mature conversation with their kids about privacy on the internet as well?

Morgan: Parents really need to talk to their kids more. A lot of times (my parents) don’t really talk to me about anything, they just expect me to know it. If parents want their kids to act mature, if they want their kids to care about certain things, they need to explain to their kids why they should care.

Elisabeth: I think it’s hard for parents and educators, though, because we’re moving at a different pace than they are. It feels like we’re done and on to the next thing by the time people are trying to block it or are really aware of it. I think it’s really hard for parents and educators to talk to us like they understand (technology) because it doesn’t seem like adults are using these things in the same way that we are.

Morgan: I think that if the parents did talk to their kids about it they would get a better idea about what we’re doing with technology. They don’t really (as) make much of an effort as they could to get to know us.

It’s clear, once again, that censorship and control of information being absorbed by young minds breeds resentment. Media education empowers and protects all who use technology, both old and young.

tagged: [rfid] [tech] [young_minds]