Accountability & responsibility in a digital world | Paul Davis | TEDxStMaryCSSchool

Summary

The speaker shares a personal journey from receiving a computer at age 12 to a 26-year career in tech. He emphasizes the importance of online safety, digital responsibility, and the impact of digital trails and footprints. He urges students to respect technology, as misuse can lead to severe consequences, including criminal charges. The talk concludes with advice on dealing with cyberbullying and the importance of maintaining a positive online reputation for future opportunities.

Takeaways

• 💻 The gift of a computer at a young age sparked the speaker's interest in technology, leading to a lifelong career in IT.
• 🔧 The speaker emphasizes the importance of learning and using technology responsibly, inspired by his mother's values.
• 👨‍👧 The speaker's life changed when he started educating children and parents about online safety, which became a rewarding endeavor.
• 🏫 The speaker believes that parents and educators have a crucial role in guiding children to use technology safely and responsibly.
• 📢 He argues against the idea of 'accidental' cyberbullying, stating that every digital action is intentional and leaves a trace.
• 👮‍♂️ The speaker highlights the legal implications of online actions, including the potential for criminal charges and the involvement of law enforcement.
• 👪 He stresses that devices are owned by parents, not children, and that parents are ultimately responsible for the technology's use.
• 🔗 The speaker explains the concepts of 'digital trails' and 'digital footprints,' illustrating how every online action is recorded.
• 🕵️‍♂️ He warns that digital evidence can be used to track and identify individuals involved in cyberbullying or other online misconduct.
• 📚 The speaker encourages students to consider their reputation and the long-term consequences of their online behavior.
• 🤝 He concludes by urging students to respect their parents and use technology in a way that would make them proud.

Q & A

What was the initial reason the speaker's mother bought him a computer?

The speaker's mother bought him a computer thinking he was going to play games on it.

How did the speaker's early experience with the computer influence his career path?

The speaker started coding immediately after receiving the computer, which led him to explore technology, programming, and circuit boards, eventually leading to his first job in tech at under 20 years old and a 26-year career in information technology.

What event at the speaker's daughter's school prompted a significant change in his life?

The speaker's life turned around when the principal at his daughter's school talked to him about why kids get in trouble using technology, leading him to speak to kids, parents, and various organizations about online safety.

How many people has the speaker reportedly spoken to regarding online safety?

The speaker has spoken to over 25,000 kids and over 1,200 principals, as well as various other organizations including the Ontario provincial police and the Department of National Defense.

What does the speaker believe is the most rewarding aspect of his current work?

The speaker finds education and giving knowledge back to the community, similar to what his mother did for him, the most rewarding aspect of his work.

What is the speaker's stance on the responsibility for children getting in trouble online?

The speaker believes that the responsibility lies with the parents, who are supposed to guide their children in the use of technology.

According to the speaker, what are the two action items involved in cyberbullying?

The two action items involved in cyberbullying are: 1) creating the harmful content by typing or taking a picture, and 2) transmitting the content by posting or sending it to another device.

Why does the speaker emphasize that cyberbullying is not accidental?

The speaker emphasizes that cyberbullying is not accidental because it involves intentional actions: creating and transmitting harmful content, which leaves digital trails.

What does the speaker suggest about the ownership of technology used by children?

The speaker suggests that parents own the technology used by children, as they are the ones who make the financial transactions, sign contracts, and pay the bills.

What is the difference between 'digital trails' and 'digital footprints' according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, 'digital trails' refer to the paths that data takes as it is transmitted from one device to another, while 'digital footprints' are the physical records of data written to a hard drive, memory card, or cloud storage.

What advice does the speaker give to students who experience cyberbullying?

The speaker advises students to not respond to the bully, but to collect evidence such as screenshots and bring it to a trusted adult for help.

How does the speaker connect a person's online activity with their future opportunities?

The speaker connects online activity with future opportunities by explaining that employers can look up a candidate's online presence and judge them based on their digital trails, which can potentially supersede their educational qualifications.