Digital citizenship is a growing movement in which educators and tutors
teach students how to use the internet responsibly. When students post
inappropriate items on social media or bully other students, they may
be damaging their reputations for life. Not only do students face dangers
from themselves, but also from others online.
Digital citizenship aims to educate students so that they can utilize the
internet safely and protect themselves and their families. They also learn
how to use social media appropriately and interact with others in a positive way.
Digital Citizenship
This year celebrated the very first Digital Citizenship week which ran
from October 18 to 24. In this new movement, students are taught how to
harness the incredible power of the internet as a resource and a tool
to further their education.
One of the key principles of the movement is to teach students how to be
responsible digital citizens. That entails staying safe on the internet,
being respectful and contributing meaningfully.
Digital citizenship covers broader topics like managing your reputation
online, media literacy, copyright laws, and privacy. Students are taught
to find reliable sources for research and how to recognize scams.
Staying Safe Online
Students are going to be spending a lot of time online, so parents and
educators must teach them how to do so safely. Digital citizenship teaches
students how to create secure passwords and to discern which information
is private and which is public so that they only share details about their
lives that are appropriate.
Photographs are discussed at length with a view to what should be shared
and what is private. Even innocent pictures can put students at risk for
example; a picture of you in front of your home may inadvertently reveal
your address.
Protection also extends to hacking and students are taught about spam,
malware, viruses, phishing, ransomware, and identity theft.
Students need to reflect on the way in which they use the internet and
social media, the effect their use has on their own reputations and the
way they interact with others. Increasingly, digital citizenship is becoming
an essential part of education as students learn to be caring, responsible,
safe users of the internet.
Digital Citizenship Resources
