Participant Spotlight: Zan Saleem

We are pleased to share an essay from SEUT Essay Challenge participant Zan Saleem, a student at Arizona College Prep High School. In “Future of Technology and Data Development,” Zan explores the ethical challenges surrounding how personal data is collected, stored, and used. Drawing from personal experiences in both school and work, as well as broader societal concerns, he calls for stronger privacy protections and more responsible technology development.

You can read Zan’s essay below:

The rapid advancement of data-driven technology has reshaped various aspects of our modern-day lives, from daily communication and entertainment to education. However, I’ve become increasingly aware of a major challenge that many high schoolers face: how we use and treat data, particularly with regard to privacy and ethical concerns. With the constant flow of personal information being generated and stored, there is an urgent need for individuals and organizations to reflect on the implications of this data usage, both in terms of personal autonomy and the ethical responsibility we have as a society.

My personal experiences with technology have deepened my understanding of how essential it is to balance innovation with privacy and ethical considerations. In my role as a retail manager at The MidKnight Snack, the student-run store at my high school, I’ve seen firsthand how personal data is collected and stored. When processing sales, I’m responsible for ensuring the integrity of customer information, which is an important step in managing the store’s operations. However, there is always the question of what happens to that data once it's collected. In an age of targeted advertisements, it is crucial to think about where that information goes and how it may be used by third parties, often without explicit knowledge or consent.

This concern over the handling of data becomes even more pressing when I think about the role of social media in our lives. Using platforms like Instagram and Snapchat has become a part of my life as well as my peers'. Social media platforms gather massive amounts of personal data, tracking not only what we post but how we engage with content, whom we interact with, and even what we search for. As a teenager, the challenge lies in enjoying the benefits of staying connected versus the discomfort of knowing how much of our personal lives are being monitored. This data, in turn, influences what we see on our feeds, shaping our perceptions of the world, our self-worth, and sometimes even our actions.

For example, many of my peers are acutely aware of how algorithms on social media platforms push us toward specific narratives and even influence our consumer choices. However, we often don’t fully grasp the psychological extent to which our data is being used to shape our behavior. As someone who is interested in technology, it becomes evident to me that there is a growing need for both consumers and creators to critically evaluate how data is being treated.

This is not just a personal challenge but a societal one. As data usage grows, we must confront the ethical dilemmas surrounding privacy and transparency. As a high school student, I feel that it’s crucial for my peers and I to develop a sense of responsibility when it comes to how we interact with data, especially as we transition into adulthood and begin to engage more critically with technology.

To address this challenge, I’ve taken steps to learn more about data privacy and ethical technology development. This is partly inspired by my experiences with organizations like Mind4Youth, where I’ve worked to promote mental health awareness. Through my volunteer work there, I’ve realized the importance of ethical communication and the need to protect individuals’ privacy, particularly when working with sensitive information. This understanding has extended to my academic interests as well. In my English courses, I’ve learned about “Big Data” companies tiptoeing on the edge of privacy laws and debated the ethical considerations that come with handling large amounts of personal data. Privacy laws like the General Data Protection Regulation are key topics to look at when discussing the legality surrounding consumer privacy, and I find myself increasingly interested in how such regulations can be implemented more effectively across the globe.

Looking forward, I am eager to continue developing my understanding of how technology intersects with ethics, particularly in the realm of engineering and hardware design. As I pursue a degree in electrical engineering, I see an exciting opportunity to work on creating technologies that address both innovation and privacy concerns. I am especially interested in designing secure systems that prioritize user privacy while enabling the efficient and responsible use of data. By combining my passion for technology with a commitment to ethical practices, I hope to contribute to the development of systems that not only push technological boundaries but also respect individual rights.

Beyond my academic ambitions, I also plan to take a proactive role in advocating for stronger data privacy standards in the tech community. In the future, I hope to work with organizations that focus on improving privacy regulations and ensuring that technology companies are held accountable for how they handle personal data. By engaging with experts and developers, I hope to help bridge the gap between technological innovation and the ethical principles that should guide its development. Through research and advocacy, I am committed to shaping a future where technology is a tool for positive change without compromising our fundamental rights.

Overall, the growing impact of data-driven technologies in our daily lives brings with it a number of ethical concerns, particularly around privacy and how our personal information is handled. As a high school student, I have witnessed the effects of these issues in both personal and academic contexts, from social media interactions to academic data use. Moving forward, I am committed to learning more about these challenges, advocating for better practices, and developing technologies that prioritize ethics alongside innovation. Through education and community involvement, I believe we can work toward a future where technology serves to empower rather than exploit individuals and communities.