{"id":118634,"date":"2026-09-30T15:38:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T13:38:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hiig.de\/?page_id=118634"},"modified":"2026-09-30T20:02:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T18:02:00","slug":"your-data-your-choice","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hiig.de\/en\/your-data-your-choice\/","title":{"rendered":"Your data. Your choice?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\t\t\t\t\"Your\n\t<\/figure>\n

\n\t\t\tYour data. Your choice?\t<\/h1>\n

\n\t\t\tWith this learning kit, young people find out what their online data reveals about them and how they can stay in control of it. The learning kit is currently available in German only.\t<\/h3>\n\t

We see adverts all day long, on Instagram and TikTok as well as on websites and in online shops. They often seem made for us. They show exactly the product we are interested in, at the right price, delivered tomorrow or available in the shop around the corner. That is no coincidence. Companies analyse what we do online and show us adverts that match the interests they assume we have. This can be useful, but it can also carry risks. Yet many people do not know how personalised advertising actually works. This is especially true of young people, who spend a lot of time online and leave many data trails behind.<\/p>\n

This is where the learning kit Your data. Your choice?<\/em> comes in. Educators can use it to design lessons and workshops for young people aged 16 and over. Across three modules that build on one another, learners first understand, then evaluate and finally act. Young people trace their own data trails online and ask the key questions. Who collects which data? For what purpose? What consequences can this have for them personally? And what rights do they have themselves? Drawing on their own experiences and using practical tools, they discover what their data reveals about them. As a result, they handle personalised advertising more confidently, learn to assess its consequences critically and take more control of their choices online.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tKontakt\t<\/h2>\n

\n\t\t\tWhere can the learning kit be used?\t<\/h2>\n\t\t

The material works in schools and in non-formal learning settings, whether in subjects such as computer science, social studies or ethics, in youth work or in civic education. All materials are available under DOI 10.5281\/zenodo.23040622.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload complete learning kit\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t

Module 1: How does personalised advertising work?<\/a><\/h2>

Personalised advertising is everywhere. But how does it come about? Learners find out which data is generated when they browse, search and scroll, what role consent plays and how interest categories determine the adverts they see. They draw on their own experiences to make this concrete.<\/p>\n

Goal: Understanding | Duration: 90 min.<\/h3>\n

Materials: Worksheet 1 + Presentation 1 + smartphone<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload module 1\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Sid-modul-1-Grafik\"\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t

Module 2: Practical or problematic?<\/a><\/h2>

Personalised advertising has its upsides and downsides. Using everyday scenarios, learners discuss when an advert is helpful, when it intrudes on privacy and when it can contribute to discrimination. They look at each case from different perspectives and give reasons for their assessments.<\/p>\n

Goal: Evaluating | Duration: 90 min.<\/h3>\n

Materials: Worksheet 2 + Presentation 2 + Fundamental rights deep dive (optional)<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload module 2\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Sid-modul-2-Grafik\"\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t

Module 3: What can you do?<\/a><\/h2>

Knowledge alone is not enough. Learners explore how they can take action themselves, from making conscious choices about what they click in everyday life to exercising their rights and using practical tools. With the help of action cards, they reflect on what making informed decisions means in their everyday digital lives.<\/p>\n

Goal: Acting | Duration: 90 min.<\/h3>\n

Materials: Worksheet 3 + Presentation 3 + action cards<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload module 3\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t

\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Sid-modul-3-Grafik\"\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n

\n\t\t\tAbout the material\t<\/h2>\n\tTogether, the three modules form a learning unit of 4.5 hours. Each module can also be integrated into existing lessons on its own. All components are available in an editable format. A detailed guide for educators with tips on running the sessions and additional background information<\/strong> is available to download. A glossary<\/strong> also explains key terms used across the modules. This means educators can use all materials without prior knowledge and adapt them to their own group.\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"SID-Handreichung\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload guide\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"SID-Handreichung\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload glossary\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n

\n\t\t\tBackground\t<\/h2>\n\t

Personalised advertising is one of the internet’s key business models. Companies analyse, for example, what we search for online and which videos we watch. They track what we like, what lands in our shopping basket and where we are at any given moment. Algorithms use this to estimate our likely interests and show us matching adverts. This can make searching easier and point us to products that suit us. But it can also pose risks to privacy and sometimes contribute to discrimination. Personalised advertising is therefore neither simply good nor simply bad.<\/p>\n

The learning kit was developed at the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) as part of the project Safe in data traffic<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tLicence\t<\/h3>\n\t\tThis Open Educational Resource is published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Licence<\/a>, which allows the materials to be used freely as long as the creator is credited.\n\n

\n\t\t\tTeam\t<\/h3>\n\t\t

Editor: Irina K\u00fchnlein<\/a><\/p>\n

Concept: Irina K\u00fchnlein,<\/a> Sarah Spitz<\/a>, Maurice Stenzel<\/a> & Elena Eulitz<\/a><\/p>\n

Research input: Maurice Stenzel<\/a><\/p>\n

Advisory, communication and strategy: Frederik Efferenn<\/a><\/p>\n

Design: Larissa Wunderlich<\/a><\/p>\n\n