Digital Citizenship

•  What is digital citizenship?

Digital citizenship is about roles, responsibility and positive engagement with digital technologies. Digital citizen refers to a person who has the knowledge and skills to effectively use digital technologies to communicate with others, participate in society and create and consume digital content. 

OR, it is a holistic and positive approach to helping students learn how to be safe and secure, as well as smart and effective participants in a digital world. 

• 9 elements of digital citizenship

• Digital access

  Digital access is an important concept of digital citizenship. It allows for fair accessibility to technology as well as the ability to use it in order to enhance the learning process for all. It is also an equitable opportunity to the same education for every student via the use of technology.

• Digital commerce

The buying and selling of goods and services using the Internet, mobile networks and commerce infrastructure.

Technology users need to understand that a large share of the market economy is done electronically. Full electronic participation in society, which includes helping to make sure everyone has equal access to technology and understands the limitations and drawbacks when this access is withheld. Legitimate and legal exchanges occur but the buyer and seller need to be aware of the issues associated with it. Users need to learn about how to be effective consumers of the digital economy.

• Digital communication

  A means of digital communications that is capable of very high speeds; suitable for transmission of images or voice or video as well as data. 

Examples: mobile phones, television, radio, Internet. CDs and MP3s are replacing records and tapes, digital cameras, etc...

• Digital literacy

The process of teaching and learning about technology and the use of technology. New technologies are finding their way into the workplace that is not being used in schools. Learners must be taught how to learn digital society. Digital citizenship involves educating people in a new way, these individuals need a high degree of information literacy skills.

• Digital etiquette

Digital Etiquette is integrity or sense of self-management, and general responsibility for your actions as well as yourself on the internet and treating people like you would in real life.

Technology users often see this area as one of the most pressuring problems when dealing with digital citizenship. More than just being able to recognize inappropriate behavior, good digital citizens should know how to act appropriately online. Inappropriate behavior is recognized but before people use the technology they do not learn digital citizen etiquette.

• Digital law

Digital law can be defined as the legal rights and restrictions governing technology use. In today's world, many people are not responsible digital citizens. They are criminals, breaking the law, either knowing or not knowing, what is appropriate or inappropriate technology use. 

There are certain rules of society that users need to be aware of an ethical society. Users need to understand that stealing or causing damage to others identity or property online is a crime. Hacking into others information, creating destructive worms, plagiarising, downloading illegal music, viruses, sending spam or stealing anyone's identity or property is unethical.

• Digital right and responsibilities

The definition of digital rights and responsibilities is having the right and freedom to use all types of digital technology while using technology in an acceptable and appropriate manner. As a user of digital technology, we also have the right to privacy and the freedom of personal expression.

• Digital health and wellness

Physical and psychological well being in a digital technology world.  Eye safety, sound ergonomic practices, and repetitive stress syndromes are issues that need to be addressed in a new technological world. Users need to be taught that there are inherent dangers to technology. Beyond the physical issues are those of psychological issues that are becoming very prevalent such as internet addiction. Digital citizenship includes a culture where technology users are taught how to protect themselves through education and training.

• Digital security 

In a society there are people who steal, disrupt or deface other people, the same thing goes for the digital community. There needs to be virus protection, backups of data and surge control of equipment. As a responsible citizen, you must protect your information from outside forces that may cause disruption or harm. It is important to ensure that your devices are safe and secure to use.

Digital Security is important because it allows people to use social media and online banking and protects them from risks such as identity theft and fraud.

                                            Cyberbullying



Cyberbullying is like any other bullying which takes place online. It comes in many forms like spreading rumors and sending threatening messages through social media, texting, or email, pretending to be another child and posting embarrassing material under their name, forwarding private photos without consent, and generally posted online about another child with the intent to humiliate them.



    1. Why cyberbullying is dangerous?

Cyberbullying can be dangerous because it can lead to:

• depression
• fear and anxiety
• low self-esteem

 2. How we can prevent cyberbullying?

We can prevent cyberbullying by:

• keeping a record of everything
• saving emails and
• taking screen captures of the offending online posts or text messages
• blocking the person doing the bullying