Cultivating Digital Policy Literacy

Why don't we seem to question one way or another what we are signing up for? When did policy agreements stop becoming a main concern? When did tech users stop thinking about what they share, to whom, and how? Is it because we are truly in the digital age (so we feel like our choices are slim to none) or more about our cultural laziness (arguably, and different between cultures) that we do not take time to read and contemplate the repercussions? Users always have access to terms of service and data and privacy policies, but they do not always engage with the content. Of course, even if a digital product or service presents its policies clearly, sometimes, third parties with only a brushing association with the collector or creator of the data take advantage of that data. Sometimes, it is those in charge who abuse their information for their sake at the expense of others.

So, how do we help users of digital tools and services understand their rights and responsibilities better? How can we cultivate a digital literacy for the age of big data and algorithms? We don’t have a lot of firm answers at this point, though we have some ideas based on collecting and reviewing the selection of policies on display in this exhibit. One thing we suggest is a large-scale cultural effort to educate citizens on the importance of reading and understanding digital terms of service. This has happened before. Smoking used to be a greater issue in our country than it is today. Through the efforts of things such as TV advertisements and educational efforts to inform individuals about the effects of smoking, the number of people that participate in smoking in the United States has seemed to decrease. Noting the success of anti-smoking campaigns in this country, we wonder whether it’s time for a similar initiative that marshalls the power of PR and advertising, in conjunction with government resources, to change the behavior of both users and providers of digital tools and services. Can we create a cultural shift that results in a healthy digital citizenry? What other ideas do you have for helping us all navigate this confusing landscape in which our rights and our information are on the line?