Let’s face it, very few people read the “terms and conditions,” or the “terms of use” agreements prior to installing an application (app). These agreements are legally binding, and clicking “I agree” may permit apps (the companies that own them) to access your: calendar, camera, contacts, location, microphone, phone, or storage, as well as details and information about your friends. While some applications require certain device permissions to support functionality—for example, your camera app will most likely need to access your phone’s storage to save the photos and videos you capture—other permissions are questionable. Does a camera app really need access to your microphone? Think about the privacy implications of this decision.
This section could spark a powerful class discussion on persuasion and critical reading. “Terms and conditions” are often ignored, yet they’re written in legal, complex language that masks significant privacy trade-offs. In English class, I could use real app agreements as nonfiction texts for rhetorical analysis. Who’s the audience? What’s the tone? How is consent being shaped or assumed? This would also build students’ media literacy by helping them question what they’re agreeing to and why.