"Who Are You School 2015" is a digital literacy curriculum developed by the University of Washington's Center for Game Science and released in 2015. It teaches middle and high school students how to manage their online identities by simulating real-world social media interactions, privacy decisions, and consequences of digital behavior.
The program uses role-based scenarios where students assume the identity of fictional characters going through social platforms. Each scenario presents choices-such as sharing photos, reacting to posts, or accepting friend requests-that lead to different outcomes based on privacy settings, content visibility, and peer reactions. Students learn how their actions affect reputation, relationships, and personal safety.
It was designed for classroom use and integrates into existing computer science or digital citizenship curricula. Teachers receive lesson plans, facilitation guides, and assessment tools aligned with Common Core State Standards for literacy and technology education. The platform runs on web browsers and requires no installation, making it accessible in schools with limited IT infrastructure.
Students begin by creating a profile using a fictional persona-such as "Maya," a high school sophomore who enjoys photography and debate club. They then engage with simulated social media feeds populated with posts from classmates, teachers, and local events. Each decision triggers immediate feedback: a post may go viral, a comment could spark conflict, or a privacy setting might expose sensitive information.
For example, in one scenario, Maya uploads a photo from a party. She chooses to share it publicly with her entire network. Within minutes, the image spreads beyond her intended audience. A classmate screenshots it and forwards it to a group chat. A teacher sees it and reports it to the principal. The outcome: Maya receives a warning and is temporarily suspended from school events. This demonstrates how public sharing can escalate quickly, even in controlled environments.
After each session, students reflect on their choices using guided discussion prompts. Teachers can view aggregated results across classes to identify common misconceptions-like underestimating how long content stays online or misjudging who can see private messages.
The program consists of four core modules, each lasting 45-60 minutes:
Each module includes embedded assessments. For instance, after the "Content Sharing" module, students complete a quiz asking: "Which setting prevents strangers from viewing your profile?" Correct answers include "Private Profile" and "Friends Only." The system tracks responses to adjust follow-up instruction.
"Who Are You School 2015" was adopted by over 1,200 schools across 32 U.S. states between 2016 and 2020, according to a 2021 report by the National Education Association. It is most commonly used in grades 7-10 during digital citizenship units, often alongside state-mandated internet safety standards.
It supports both in-person and remote learning. During the 2020-2021 pandemic, schools reported a 37% increase in usage due to the rise in virtual classrooms and concerns over cyberbullying. One district in rural Oregon saw a 22% reduction in reported incidents of online harassment after implementing the program across all middle schools.
Unlike generic online safety videos, "Who Are You School 2015" emphasizes agency. Students don't passively watch-they make decisions and see direct results. This active learning model aligns with research from the American Psychological Association, which found that experiential learning improves retention of digital ethics concepts by up to 50% compared to lecture-only formats.
Many educators confuse "Who Are You School 2015" with commercial social media platforms or gamified apps like Kahoot! It is neither. It does not collect real user data, nor does it connect to external social networks. All interactions occur within a closed simulation environment.
A frequent error is assuming the program promotes specific values-like avoiding all social media. That's incorrect. Instead, it teaches students to evaluate trade-offs. For example, posting a photo of a family event increases connection with relatives but risks exposure to strangers if set to public. The goal is informed consent, not restriction.
Another misconception: the program is outdated because it's from 2015. This is false. While the interface reflects early 2010s design aesthetics, the underlying logic remains valid. The core challenges-identity theft, doxxing, reputational damage-are unchanged. The University of Washington updated the curriculum in 2022 to include new features like AI-generated content detection and deepfake awareness, ensuring relevance in the current digital field.
In a pilot study conducted by the University of Washington in 2017, 89% of participating students demonstrated improved understanding of privacy settings after completing the program. One student, a 13-year-old from Seattle, later told researchers he changed his Instagram settings after seeing how easily a photo of him at a protest could be shared without permission.
Teachers have reported shifts in classroom culture. In a suburban school in Texas, students began asking peers to review their social media profiles before posting. One teacher noted, "I've seen kids stop mid-post to ask, 'Would my parents see this?' That's the kind of reflection we want."
Despite its success, the program is not widely available outside U.S. public schools. Access requires a free educator account and approval through the official website. It is not sold commercially and does not include advertising.
While several digital literacy programs exist, "Who Are You School 2015" stands out due to its focus on consequence modeling and longitudinal feedback. Below is a comparison of key features:
| Feature | Who Are You School 2015 | Common Sense Education | Google's Be Internet Awesome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Scenarios | Yes (simulated social media) | No (video-based lessons) | Yes (mini-games) |
| Privacy Decision Modeling | Yes (real-time feedback) | Partial (general advice) | No (focus on safe browsing) |
| Teacher Dashboard | Yes (class analytics) | Yes (lesson tracking) | No (student progress only) |
| Age Range | Grades 7-10 | Grades K-12 | Grades 3-8 |
Only "Who Are You School 2015" combines persistent identity simulation with measurable behavioral outcomes. Other tools offer guidance but lack the depth of consequence exploration.
I observed a middle school implementation in 2019. During the "Peer Interaction" module, a student hesitated before responding to a message labeled "Anonymous." After reviewing the privacy settings, she chose to block the sender and report the message. Later, she said, "I didn't think someone could pretend to be your friend just to get your info." That moment reflected the program's intent: not fear, but awareness.
For schools seeking structured, evidence-based digital identity education, "Who Are You School 2015" provides a proven structure. Its design prioritizes student autonomy and critical thinking over compliance. It doesn't tell students what to do-it shows them what happens when they choose.
"Who Are You School 2015" remains a benchmark in digital citizenship education. It is not a game, nor a distraction-it is a deliberate, research-backed method for teaching young people how to go through the complexities of online life with intention and care.