BLOG 9 I Use My PLN Every Day — So Who Owns the Data?
While I was working on my CSC Turing machine programming project, my PLN basically became my “learning engine.” I watched YouTube videos to review the idea and check examples, and I used Reddit to read other students’ explanations and practice-style discussions. The learning part is simple: I’m trying to implement a machine with states and transitions, and debug why my program accepts or rejects certain inputs. I don’t need PLN to “teach me everything,” but I need it to quickly unblock small, stuck points. The problem is, the more I use these platforms, the more I realize that the PLN is not only about people and resources, but also a data system that tracks my activity. YouTube remembers what I replay, what I skip, and then it pushes more of the same. Reddit remembers what I search. It makes learning convenient, but it also shapes what I see next, even when I didn’t ask for that.
Canada privacy context
In Canada, PIPEDA has established basic rules for how private sector organizations handle personal information in their commercial activities (Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, 2024). The PIPEDA video tells us that organizations should have limitations and responsibilities when collecting and using personal information (YouTube, n.d.). In addition, PIPEDA is based on the principle of fair information and aims to give people more control over how personal information is handled (Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, 2025). However, when my PLN includes YouTube/Reddit/other third-party tools, I am not always sure how the “control” mentioned in the file is carried out. That is to say, transparency and openness have not been widely recognized. So, in the field of education, the situation may become even more chaotic because, besides universities like UVic being recognized by BC FIPPA as public institutions, many PLN tools are not “university tools” and have higher usage rates.
Therefore, I believe that educators and institutions should focus more on whether personal data is collected without a clear learning purpose for PLN. Does third-party data analysis meet Canada’s privacy expectations? Essentially, students have autonomy and the ability to control whether they accept PLN tool policies for information sharing. Especially with regards to artificial intelligence, Dais’ report on youth privacy and generative artificial intelligence concludes that young people face privacy risks in education and social media environments, and current protective measures may not be sufficient to protect users’ privacy when using generative artificial intelligence tools (The Dais, 2025). The collection of personal information by learning tools is inevitable and carries uncertainty, and the moral and social impact should be minimized as much as possible.
What I’ll change
I’m not saying ‘don’t use PLN’. Without it, my Turing machine project would be much slower. But I believe that high-quality professional learning requires more than just efficiency. My next step is to be more conscious in using PLN: using Course Space（Brightspace） as much as possible, reducing unnecessary tracking in settings, and being more careful with the content I click on and upload.
Reference
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. (2024). PIPEDA requirements in brief. https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/privacy-topics/privacy-laws-in-canada/the-personal-information-protection-and-electronic-documents-act-pipeda/pipeda_brief/
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. (2025). PIPEDA fair information principles. https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/privacy-topics/privacy-laws-in-canada/the-personal-information-protection-and-electronic-documents-act-pipeda/p_principle/
The Dais. (2025). (Gen)eration AI: Safeguarding youth privacy in the age of generative artificial intelligence. https://dais.ca/reports/generation-ai-safeguarding-youth-privacy-in-the-age-of-generative-artificial-intelligence/
YouTube. (n.d.). Understanding Canada’s Privacy Law (PIPEDA) — 2 minutes [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_MaDSnBNJM
This reflection is very well written. Its strength lies in the natural way it integrates personal learning experiences with the Canadian privacy context, particularly by using the CSC Turing Machine project as an example, which makes the content more authentic and persuasive. You not only highlight how a Personal Learning Network (PLN) aids in learning but also delve deeper into the underlying issues of data tracking and privacy. This adds a critical perspective to the essay, elevating it beyond a mere description. The final section proposes concrete changes—such as increased use of Brightspace and reducing unnecessary tracking—which further round out the essay.
I really liked how you connected your personal experience with using YouTube and Reddit to the idea of data tracking—it made the post feel very real and relatable. The point about platforms shaping what we see next, even without asking, stood out to me. It made me reflect on how much of my own learning is influenced by algorithms rather than my own choices.
I really liked your post, especially how you connected your Turing machine projects to how you actually use your PLN. The way you explained using YouTube and Reddit to help “unblock” small problems felt really relatable and realistic. I also thought your point about PLNs being both learning tools and data systems was really interesting because it shows you are thinking beyond just the benefits and considering the bigger picture.
I also liked how you brought in PIPEDA and the Dais report because it made the argument feel more supported and connected to what we’ve been learning in the course.
One thing that could make your post even stronger is maybe expanding a bit more on what better transparency or control could look like for students using these platforms. You mention that it is unclear but adding a quick example could help clarify your point. You could also connect your reflection back a bit more to your earlier ideas about privacy, just to tie everything together.
Overall, this is a really strong post and shows a lot of critical thinking. With a bit more detail, it can be even stronger.