Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

“Online Privacy” ESL Discussion Questions

I. Understanding Online Privacy
1. What is online privacy?
2. Why is online privacy important?
3. Can you name some personal information you should keep private online?
4. How do you feel when you share information online?
5. Do you think online privacy is a right or a privilege?

II. Risks to Online Privacy
6. What are some risks of sharing too much information online?
7. Have you or someone you know ever had their privacy invaded online? What happened?
8. How can social media be a risk to your privacy?
9. What is identity theft and how can it affect you?
10. Can you think of a time when a company misused personal information? What happened?

III. Protecting Your Online Privacy
11. What steps can you take to protect your privacy online?
12. Why is it important to read privacy policies on websites?
13. How do passwords help protect your online privacy?
14. What is two-factor authentication and how does it help?
15. Can deleting cookies and browsing history improve your privacy?

IV. Social Media and Privacy
16. How can you manage your privacy settings on social media?
17. Should you accept friend requests from people you don’t know? Why or why not?
18. What kind of information should you avoid sharing on social media?
19. How can photos or videos you share affect your privacy?
20. Do you think social media companies do enough to protect user privacy?

V. Children and Online Privacy
21. Why is privacy important for children online?
22. How can parents protect their children’s privacy online?
23. Should children be taught about online privacy at school? Why or why not?
24. What are the dangers of sharing too much information about children online?
25. How can children learn to protect their own privacy?

VI. Government Surveillance and Privacy
26. What is government surveillance?
27. How does government surveillance affect online privacy?
28. Should governments have access to private online communications to ensure security?
29. How can citizens protect their privacy from government surveillance?
30. What are your thoughts on the balance between security and privacy?

VII. The Future of Online Privacy
31. How do you think online privacy will change in the future?
32. Will it become easier or harder to protect your privacy online? Why?
33. How might new technologies affect online privacy?
34. Can you imagine a world without online privacy? What would it be like?
35. What role do you think artificial intelligence will play in online privacy?

VIII. Online Shopping and Privacy
36. How can online shopping be a risk to your privacy?
37. What information should you be careful about sharing when shopping online?
38. How do online retailers protect customer privacy?
39. Have you ever hesitated to buy something online due to privacy concerns? Why?
40. What can you do if your privacy is compromised while shopping online?

IX. Data Breaches and Privacy
41. What is a data breach?
42. How can a data breach affect you personally?
43. What should you do if your data is part of a breach?
44. Can you name a major data breach that has happened? What were the consequences?
45. How can companies better protect user data to prevent breaches?

X. Privacy Laws and Rights
46. What privacy laws exist in your country?
47. How do privacy laws protect you?
48. Are there any privacy rights you think should be added or changed? Why?
49. How do international privacy laws affect you?
50. Should there be a global standard for online privacy? Why or why not?

XI. The Role of Companies in Protecting Privacy
51. What responsibility do companies have in protecting user privacy?
52. How can you tell if a company takes your privacy seriously?
53. What should companies do when they fail to protect user privacy?
54. How do advertisements online affect your privacy?
55. Can companies sell your personal information? Should they be allowed to?

XII. Personal Experiences with Online Privacy
56. Have you ever changed your behavior online due to privacy concerns? How?
57. What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned about online privacy?
58. Do you feel your online privacy is well protected? Why or why not?
59. How has your opinion on online privacy changed over time?
60. What advice would you give to someone who is not concerned about their online privacy?