Overview
Are you concerned about your online privacy? Do you do anything to protect it? Can social media companies manipulate us or is that just nonsense from conspiracy theorists? In this video, John Stossel and Edward Snowden discuss online tracking of citizens, manipulating our behavior, and the role of encryption in protecting our privacy.

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Grade level and subjects
• Recommended for grades 6-12
• Subjects: Science / Technology and Other
• Works in Classroom, Hybrid, and Homeschool settings

What students will learn
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
• identify ways in which technology users are being tracked;
• explain advantages and disadvantages of having their activities and movement tracked;
• discuss how social media companies make money;
• determine if their views and behavior can be manipulated without them knowing; and
• assess the costs of social media relative to the benefits of it.

Key concepts and terms covered
Encrypt, Exiled, Monopoly, and Manipulation.

Sample discussion questions
• How many of you use Facebook? Instagram? TikTok? Twitter? Google Chrome? Do you know your online activity is tracked by these companies?
• Edward Snowden told John Stossel that the reason he doesn't care about this is because he doesn’t understand the way that that system is being used against him. What does he mean by that? If they are giving us information or products we want, how is it being used against us?
• Facebook claims independent fact-checkers protect their users, but what if the “fact-checkers” are simply trying to further limit information or views they disagree with?
• Are you concerned that the standard messaging app on your phone is not secure? Have you opted for any “secure” apps or browsers mentioned in the video, such as DuckDuckGo, Signal messenger, or others?
• Are you going to make any changes after seeing this video?

What’s in the free teacher’s guide
This printable 11-page Teacher's Guide includes a lesson description, learning objectives, key vocabulary, a fill-in viewing guide with answer key, discussion and analysis questions, and classroom activities.

Standards alignment
Aligned to state standards — use the SITC Standards Tool to match this video to the standards in your state.