To celebrate safer internet day, the EU’s cyber security agency, ENISA (the European Network and Information Security Agency), released a 49 page document called Online as soon as it happens available at http://www.enisa.europa.eu/act/ar/deliverables/2010/onlineasithappens. I browsed through much of the document but paid particular attention to Part 5 – Golden Rules. Out of the 17 recommendations, 2 startled me and that are in direct opposition to what many people in my PLN advocate.
Use a pseudonym. Interestingly, I just read Karl Fisch’s post advocating that we let kids post their full names on the web so that they can create a positive digital footprint (http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2009/07/digital-footprint-growth-model.html). The ENISA document is saying stay anonymous. Note that the 17 recommendations given are for everyone, not just students. What do you do? What do you advocate with your students and why?
Do not mix your business contacts with your friend contacts. If schools follow this, the implication is that teachers cannot befriend colleagues and students using the same account that they use with friends. This ENISA rule prohibits communication on social networking sites between teachers and their students.
I wonder if anyone will read these rules and become intimidated by/afraid of social networking sites.