Deputy Principal

Algorithms – What are our children being exposed to online

When I was growing up, I remember learning about algorithms. When I was growing up, we used them to solve mathematical problems at school. These days, however, social media platforms are using them to target our children individually. They use their past behaviour, the frequency they look at things and the words they are typing into their phones to come up with a bespoke offering for each individual. Every time any of us like something on social media it gives companies information on our habits. It is just like for me, when I swipe my Woolworths Rewards or Flybuys card at the supermarket I am giving these companies information on my spending habits.

At a recent professional development meeting I was shown an excellent resource put together by the Australian Government. It is called the ‘Algorithm of Disrespect’ and I would encourage all of you to take ten minutes to click on this link. The link takes you inside the phone of a typical teenage boy named James. It works through phone conversations with a girl and his mate. It shows how words have meanings and then goes onto show what type of videos he is exposed to when he types in certain words regarding how to be friendly with girls. Once the videos are opened, or you scroll past something but stop for a few seconds, the site immediately notices the users’ habits. It continues to expose James to content that is less than desirable. It is all in the algorithm and the algorithm is hard to break.

I am certainly not saying we need to ban social media. It has many positives including that it allows people to stay in touch with each other. However, as I have asked parents/carers before, ‘Do you know what your children are watching on their screens?’. I am not perfect, I walked into my kitchen this morning and all I could hear on my youngest daughter’s phone was someone talking about euthanising a dog. When I questioned her quite abruptly, she did not even know what the word euthanasia meant. 

It is important that we regularly check on the content and messages on our children’s phone. It is not an invasion of privacy. It is our obligation as parents/carers to ensure that our children are safe. We wouldn’t send them into a stranger's home physically, yet we allow them into stranger’s homes everyday online. Lastly, as I always say, there is no reason for your son/s to have his phone in his room while studying or overnight while sleeping. If he needs an alarm clock, then he can go to Big W and buy one.

Adrian Byrne

Deputy Principal