Photo-social-network [starter activity]

This is a visualization activity. The purpose of this activity is to get participants thinking about online consent and data privacy through the medium of permissions and terms of services on the apps they use.

Learning objectives this activity responds to

• understand a feminist perspective in the digital space about
• meaningful / informed consent
• full control over personal data and information online

Who is this activity for?

This activity can be used with participants with different levels of experience with consent and privacy issues online and offline, preferably with access to a device with which they connect to the internet.

Time required

45 minutes, including set up and debrief.

Resources needed for this activity

• Flipchart with activity scenario written/printed on it
• Post-its
• Markers

Mechanics

This is a visualising exercise. Participants will be given post-its and markers to write.

Individual visualization - 15 minutes

First, read out the scenario from the flipchart as follows:

"Say you were the inventor / owner of a popular new photo-based social network (like Instagram). You make money by offering users the ability to advertise their posts to targeted users based on age, location, interest. To operate, you need access to the users' photo gallery. What permissions would you ask for, and what terms of service would you provide information about?"

You could ask the participants to reflect on the following aspects:

• Ownership and retention of the uploaded photos
• Access the users' photo gallery
• Using user data for advertising

Full Group Debrief - 25 minutes

To process, ask them about the exercise and reflections/insights that they have as they were writing.

Some guide questions for the debrief:

• What permissions would you ask for?
• What are some of the terms of services you would offer?
• Who would own the uploaded photos?
• Where would the uploaded photos be stored?
• How would you ask for consent to access the users' photo gallery?
• How would you use this data for advertising?
• Do you think there is a connection between how such online consent works and offline consent?

You can then reflect upon their responses and discuss them with the group.