Instructions: 

1. Watch and listen to the 60-Second Civics video below. If you'd like, you can also read along using the script that appears below the quiz. Or you can turn on the video's subtitles and read while watching the video.
2. Take the Daily Civics Quiz. If you get the question wrong, watch the video again or read the script and try again.

Episode Description:
When you use social media networks and digital technology, a great deal of your personal information is collected by the companies that run these services. You have a right to privacy, but it's also up to you to take positive steps to protect yourself. Learn how in today’s episode!

Privacy: Digital Citizenship, Part 7

Welcome to 60-Second Civics from the Center for Civic Education. I’m Mark Gage.

 

When you use social media networks and digital technology, a great deal of your personal information is collected by the companies that run these services.

 

Your right to privacy is governed by privacy laws and by the terms of use and privacy policies that everyone has to agree to in order to use these services, but that few people read.

 

However, it's up to you to take positive steps to protect yourself.

 

So what can you do?

 

First, be careful what you post, share, and like publicly.

 

Your public posts can be read by anyone. 

 

If you have something to say in private, many platforms allow you to limit who reads your posts to a small group of people that you identify in advance.

 

Second, be careful about what apps you install on your phone. 

 

Apps can gather a lot of personal information about you, such as your location and the people in your contact list.

 

So, it's best to keep the number of apps on your phone limited to those you absolutely need, and be sure to only install apps from reputable companies.

 

Third, limit what data your apps can access. 

 

You can do this in each app's settings.

 

It’s a good idea to deny apps any permissions they don’t absolutely need.

 

For example, does your podcast app really need to know your location? 

 

Remember, it’s ultimately up to you to protect your privacy online, but being aware of the importance of privacy is the first and most critical step.

 

This episode was made possible by the support of T-Mobile.

 

60-Second Civics, where civic education only takes a minute.