This content is located in CAPS under Social Implications: Impact on Society for Grade 12.

The deep web and the dark web are fascinating, yet often misunderstood concepts in internet technologies. These areas of the internet are crucial for students to understand, especially given their role in discussions about privacy, security, and ethical considerations online. Grade 12 CAT students should explore these topics with a clear focus on the boundaries between legitimate uses and risks.

To make this topic engaging and relatable, teachers can connect it to real-world scenarios while using accessible resources to simulate the structure of the internet.

Making it Practical

1. Visualise the Internet as an Iceberg
   Begin with the “iceberg analogy” to help students grasp the concept. Explain that the visible tip of the iceberg represents the surface web (websites indexed by search engines). Beneath the surface lies the deep web (non-indexed content like academic databases and private accounts), and at the bottom is the dark web, where anonymity is prioritised, often for illicit purposes.
   Create a drawing or digital diagram of an iceberg and encourage students to label examples for each section.
2. Simulated Searches
   Use activities that simulate “searching below the surface.” For example, demonstrate how accessing a private Google Drive or a library database involves the deep web. Explain why these spaces are not indexed and discuss their legitimate uses.
3. Discussion on Anonymity
   Initiate a classroom discussion: Why do people value anonymity on the internet? Highlight examples such as whistleblowers using the dark web for safety versus its misuse for illegal activities. Frame this as an ethical debate, encouraging critical thinking.
4. Hands-On Exploration
   Use a basic demonstration of encryption to introduce the concept of tools like Tor (The Onion Router). Without accessing the dark web, explain how Tor works and its legitimate uses, such as bypassing censorship in restrictive countries.
5. Relatable Case Studies
   Share stories, such as journalists protecting their sources using encrypted communication. Compare this to illegal marketplaces, emphasising the importance of ethical internet use. This dual perspective prepares students to weigh the societal impact of technology.
6. Impact of the Deep and Dark Web on Society
   Discuss cybersecurity concerns, like ransomware attacks originating from the dark web. Then, balance this with the benefits of privacy tools, like protecting sensitive business communications.
7. Create a Cyber Safety Guide
   Assign students to work in groups to create a simple “cyber safety” guide. Include tips on safe browsing, avoiding scams, and recognising phishing attempts. They can present their guides as posters or slide decks.
8. Ethical Decision-Making Activity
   Present hypothetical scenarios involving the dark web. For instance, a student uses the dark web to buy stolen passwords. Students decide what actions to take and justify their decisions, fostering ethical reasoning aligned with Bloom’s evaluation stage.
9. Compare Privacy Tools
   Ask students to research tools like VPNs and Tor, analysing their purposes and impacts on privacy. This activity builds analytical skills and connects to their theoretical knowledge about online safety.

Classroom Adaptations for Resource-Limited Environments

If internet access is limited, substitute digital demonstrations with printed resources, charts, and role-playing activities to convey concepts. Use offline analogies, such as a library’s restricted sections, to explain the deep web’s inaccessibility without proper credentials.

Encourage open discussions about students’ online experiences, helping them understand where they encounter deep web elements daily (e.g., logging into email or online banking).

This topic encourages students to critically evaluate internet technologies, empowering them to make informed decisions online. Integrating relatable examples and ethical debates ensures the learning is both impactful and engaging.