When School Safety Software Does More Harm Than Good: The Securly Dilemma
Picture this: You’re sitting in class, trying to finish an online research project, when suddenly your school-issued laptop freezes. The screen flickers, and a message pops up: “Access denied by Securly.” The website you need? Perfectly educational. The frustration? Very real. If this scenario feels familiar, you’re not alone. Students and teachers across many schools are grappling with a growing problem: Securly, a popular content-filtering tool designed to protect students, is causing chaos on school devices.
What Is Securly, and Why Do Schools Use It?
Securly is a web-filtering and student safety platform used by schools to block inappropriate content, monitor online activity, and promote digital citizenship. It’s part of a broader effort to comply with laws like the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) while safeguarding students from harmful material. In theory, it’s a well-intentioned tool. But as many schools have discovered, good intentions don’t always translate to smooth operations.
The Problem: When Protection Becomes Disruption
At its core, Securly is supposed to act as a digital guardian. However, students and educators report a slew of issues that go beyond minor inconveniences:
1. Overblocking Legitimate Content
Securly’s filters often mislabel educational websites as “inappropriate.” For example, a biology site discussing human anatomy might get flagged due to keywords like “body” or “health.” Similarly, research platforms like JSTOR or even Google Scholar sometimes trigger false alarms, leaving students stranded mid-assignment.
2. Sluggish Performance
Many users complain that Securly slows down devices to a crawl. The software runs constantly in the background, consuming memory and processing power. This leads to lagging videos, delayed logins, and crashes during critical moments—like submitting an essay or taking an online quiz.
3. Inconsistent Policies
Students and teachers often face arbitrary restrictions. A website accessible during first period might be blocked by lunchtime, even though nothing about the content has changed. These inconsistencies create confusion and disrupt lesson plans.
4. Privacy Concerns
While monitoring student activity is part of Securly’s purpose, the extent of data collection raises eyebrows. Some students report feeling uneasy knowing their every click is tracked—even during personal time on school devices.
How Did We Get Here?
Schools adopt tools like Securly with the best intentions: protecting students and maintaining compliance. However, the rollout often lacks nuance. Administrators might enable strict filtering by default without considering how it impacts classroom workflows. Meanwhile, software updates or overly aggressive keyword lists can turn a functional tool into a daily headache overnight.
The human factor also plays a role. IT departments, already stretched thin, may struggle to fine-tune settings for hundreds or thousands of devices. Teachers, not trained in cybersecurity, are left to troubleshoot tech issues instead of focusing on instruction.
What Can Students and Teachers Do?
If Securly is causing problems in your school, silence isn’t the answer. Here’s how to advocate for change:
1. Document the Issues
Keep a log of blocked websites, error messages, and performance problems. Note timestamps and how these disruptions affected your work. Concrete examples carry weight when discussing solutions with decision-makers.
2. Collaborate with IT
School IT teams aren’t the enemy—they’re often just as frustrated. Politely share your findings and ask if filtering policies can be adjusted. For instance, whitelisting trusted educational sites or relaxing restrictions during specific hours.
3. Suggest Alternatives
If Securly isn’t working, propose other tools. Platforms like Bark or GoGuardian offer similar protections but with different approaches to balancing safety and usability. Highlight how alternatives might reduce technical glitches.
4. Start a Dialogue About Balance
Remind administrators that over-filtering can hinder learning. A 2022 study by the American Library Association found that excessive web restrictions disproportionately harm low-income students who rely on school devices for homework. Safety matters, but so does access to resources.
The Bigger Picture: Rethinking Student Safety Tech
The challenges with Securly reflect a broader issue in education technology: tools designed for safety can unintentionally undermine their own goals. When students can’t access study materials or teachers waste time troubleshooting, everyone loses.
Schools need solutions that:
– Allow customization for different age groups and subjects.
– Operate efficiently without hogging system resources.
– Involve educators and students in policy-setting.
A Temporary Workaround?
While systemic change takes time, here are quick fixes to try:
– Use a school-approved VPN (if allowed) to bypass accidental blocks.
– Download necessary resources during “open access” hours, if available.
– Switch to mobile hotspots for urgent tasks (but be mindful of data limits).
Final Thoughts: Finding the Middle Ground
Securly’s mission—to keep students safe—is admirable. But when the tool itself becomes a barrier to learning, it’s time to reassess. By voicing concerns constructively and pushing for smarter tech policies, students and educators can help schools strike a balance: protecting young users without sacrificing productivity.
After all, the goal of education technology shouldn’t be to control every click, but to create an environment where students can explore, learn, and grow—both safely and efficiently.
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