2016 Downtown Lecture Series
Kids Online: Relationships and Privacy in a World of Tinder and Twitter
Oct. 19, 2016
Chris Segrin, Stephen Balkam, & Amanda Lenhart
From baby photos posted on grandma’s Facebook page to Snapchat selfies, today’s children and teens are growing up publicly online. The unprecedented rise of virtual interactions and access to digital information raises concerns about how new technology is influencing young people and their relationships with peers, loved ones, and the world at large. How is the first digital generation managing their online identity and interactions and how will they redefine “privacy"? How is the digital divide influencing the way kids and parents communicate? What can families, schools, communities, and kids do to ensure safe and fulfilling interactions in an online world?
Media Exposé: Fame and Shame in the Digital Age
Oct. 26, 2016
David Cuillier, Emma Llansó , & Jack Gillum
In the digital world, we leave a trail of photos, videos, conversations, and other information that can be easily obtained and posted online for everyone to see forever. For journalists trying to hold governments and corporations accountable, this information can be helpful in exposing wrongdoing. For private citizens and celebrities, however, the online publication of personal information can be devastating. In the complicated information age, how do we balance the public’s right to know with the individual’s right to privacy?
Corporate Data Collection: What Are We Willing To Give?
Nov. 2, 2016
Laura Brandimarte, Richard Kosinski, Deirdre Mulligan, & Ashkan Soltani
Companies collect information from customers to provide customized services and stay competitive. Customers too can find high value in exchanging their information for personalized services. But is the data market always a win-win situation? What are the trade-offs you make when you pay for services with personal information? In this conversation, we will shed light on the hidden privacy challenges that new technology-based services bring about. We will also delve into the future of corporate data collection and digital advertising, including facial recognition technology, mobile location analysis, and the “internet of things.”