Digital Citizenship

Image credit (Berman et al., 2020)

What is Digital Citizenship?

Mike Ribble describes "digital citizenship" as "the norms of appropriate, responsible behavior with reference to the use of technology" in the book that he authored titled "Digital Citizenship in Schools." Although having excellent citizenship and having digital citizenship go hand in hand, there are certain variations between the two. The primary distinction is in the feature of having a face-to-face conversation with a person (Bearden, 2016). The anonymity afforded by social media apps may give some the impression that principles of ethics no longer apply. It is critical to understand the elements that complicate digital citizenship (Bearden, 2016).

Internet Safety

Students should learn about internet safety, which encompasses how to manage any unpleasant online circumstances, such as exposure to explicit content, online bullying, and unwanted advances from random people on social media (Bearden, 2016).

It is crucial to teach kids how to weigh the benefits of using the Internet against the hazards, including the opportunity to work with others outside of the classroom, produce and distribute information, and have their opinions heard by others other than their peers and teachers (Bearden, 2016).

Privacy and Security

A key life skill is having a thorough awareness of online privacy and security. The fundamentals of online security and how to protect one's personal information must therefore be taught. The operation of targeted marketing and the dangers to students' privacy posed by related information gathering must be explained to them (Bearden, 2016). They should be aware of the significance of personalizing privacy controls and how to use privacy controls on mobile devices and web browsers (Bearden, 2016). They require specific instructions on how to comprehend privacy rules and how to remove third-party sharing (Bearden, 2016). By making our children aware of the privacy dangers associated with using mobile apps and the online, we give them the power to make informed decisions (Bearden, 2016).

Relationships and Communication

The absence of body language makes it easy for written words to be misunderstood, and individuals say things online — especially when they are anonymous — that they would never say in person (Bearden, 2016). It is important to actively teach students conflict management and how to politely and professionally communicate when using email, text messages, or other interactive media (Bearden, 2016).

Relational and communicative digital citizenship can be an effective means of establishing and maintaining connections with people all over the world. Virtual meeting rooms, video conferencing software, and other online resources have made it easier than ever to have face-to-face conversations with people all over the world (Bearden, 2016).

Digital Footprints and Reputation

A digital footprint is data about a particular individual that is online because of that person's online activities. It is essential to keep in mind that social media can help you generate both a positive and bad digital footprint. It is crucial to demonstrate children how digital media may help them promote their achievements in school, work, projects, and community service (Bearden, 2016).

Self-Image and Identity

Young people are often inspired by the lives of celebrities they see on social media and may want to emulate those people's appearance, personality, or behavior (Bearden, 2016). Because of this, many kids make poor decisions or engage in hazardous behaviors. This highlights the significance of teaching students how to build up good reputations and relationships in the virtual world (Bearden, 2016).

Information Literacy

Learners in today's world need to have information literacy since it fosters diverse ways of approaching problems and improves thinking abilities. Because not everything that is on the internet is factual, teachers have a responsibility to educate their learners criteria for evaluating and ranking the sources of content found online (Bearden, 2016).

Creative Credit and Copyright

Teachers should instruct students in the usage of both public domain and Creative Commons licensed work to help them better grasp when and how to use conventionally copyrighted materials under fair use principles (Bearden, 2016). (With Creative Commons, authors can grant broad permission to share their work with the public under certain stipulations.) Understanding their rights as content creators and knowing how to use Creative Commons to license their own works is an important skill that should be taught to students (Bearden, 2016). Plagiarism (whether intentional or otherwise) is now as easy as pressing a button, making it more important than ever for teachers and students to know their rights and those of others in the digital age (Bearden, 2016). Understanding creative credit and copyright is an essential ability in the world today because of the ethical and legal implications (Bearden, 2016).

Now that you know the fundamentals of good digital citizenship, how well-versed do you believe yourself to be in the eight sub-fields described above?

 

 

Resources

Bearden, S. (2016). Digital Citizenship: A community-based approach. Corwin/A SAGE Publishing Company.

Berman, J., Hinduja, S., Sohn, D., & Tynes, B. (2020, March 5). Strategies for encouraging ethical digital citizenship: Can it be taught? State of the Net. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://www.stateofthenet.org/strategies-for-encouraging-ethical-digital-citizenship-can-it-be-taught/

Couros, A. (2015, March 17). Identity in a Digital World: Alec Couros: Tedxlangleyed. YouTube. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://youtu.be/pAlIBTgYfDo

Ribble, M. (2015). Digital citizenship in schools: Nine elements all students should know. International Society for Technology in Education.