Danah Boyd, like many other digital media researchers, fails to examine the business practices which shape and construct most of contemporary online media. Ms. Boyd is quoted in last week’s Boston Globe about the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act saying “[I]t’s well-intentioned, but this legislation has failed on every level.” Ms. Boyd is incorrect.  A whole range of interactive ad practices and techniques commonly found on most digital sites has not been embraced by the under-13 online advertising market. The goal of COPPA was to help structure the commercial online data collection and targeting practices aimed at young people–and it’s done so (just see what kind of data collection and targeting practices occur the minute anyone reaches 13. From that age onwards, everyone is fair game for a wide range of very disturbing practices, most of which collect and use our information). Ms. Boyd and the Globe article are also incorrect claiming that “Congress is considering renewing” COPPA.  The FTC is currently conducting a periodic review of COPPA’s rules and the Congress has held hearings on the law. But Congress doesn’t have to “renew” COPPA.
Finally, a challenge to Ms. Boyd. She is working for Microsoft–which is targeting youth across the globe via its advertising division. Microsoft Advertising is collecting data and targeting teens for junk food and other products. See Microsoft’s “How to Target Young People Online” and other materials, for example. Ms. Boyd needs to analyze what her employer–and other financial backers from the online ad industry supporting Berkman–are doing regarding youth–and hold them and herself accountable.
