Should Kids Learn About Cybersecurity in School?

Computer education has become an important part of curriculums all across the nation. Kids from grades K-12 are learning how to type and properly use modern day computers. However, it is debatable how much we should teach kids about computers. One topic related to computers is cybersecurity. Here are a few pros and cons of teaching children about cybersecurity in school.

Pros

Cybercrime has been exploding throughout the past few years at an alarming rate. As computers get more secure, hackers get more knowledgeable about cracking codes to infiltrate these systems. Thus, knowing about cybersecurity can be an extremely useful skill in the job market. Considering the student debt accumulation in the United States, paving the way for children to take advantage of cybersecurity programs at a trade school or community college could be a smart investment.

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Moreover, cybersecurity isn’t just for those looking to go into the computer industry. Cybercrime is rampant across America, so individuals need to have a basic foundation of cybersecurity knowledge if they wish to operate their computers and other devices efficiently. For instance, knowing how to spot phishing or a malicious email is imperative to staying safe online. These hackers can lead to large losses of money and data on your computer.

Beyond computer security, it is important to teach kids about passwords. For example, repeating your password for all of your accounts is extremely dangerous if a hacker can get their hands on the password. Plus, password complexity is another layer of protection. These are all cybersecurity issues that are important for kids to know

Cons

While cybercrime is becoming increasingly more problematic, some find learning about cybersecurity to be an inefficient way to utilize school time. Some kids won’t go on to primarily use computers in their jobs, so this could be a huge waste of time for them when they could be learning more valuable and substantive material.

Plus, this could be a tax burden for public schooling systems. Funding expensive laptops and other devices could be a questionable investment for schools that are lacking in other important materials such as textbooks.

In sum, there are several pros and cons to teaching kids about cybersecurity in school. The subject matter certainly depends upon the environment of the school and the interests of the children being taught.